Holy Martyr Seraphima the Virgin (II)

The holy Martyr Seraphima the Virgin was born in Antioch, but lived in Rome with the noble lady Sabina, whom she herself had converted to Christianity.

When the Emperor Hadrian (117–138) began a persecution of the Christians, the governor Berillus summoned Saint Seraphima, among others, before the tribunal. The virgin, who sought the martyr’s crown, appeared fearlessly before the tormentors. The faithful Sabina went with her. Seeing the noble lady, Berillus at first released Seraphima, but later summoned her again and insistently demanded that she offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. The blessed one boldly confessed the true God. The martyr remained unshaken even when they began to burn her with the flames of candles and to beat her mercilessly. The ferocious Berillus did not escape the Lord’s punishment: a splinter that broke off the rod with which Seraphima was being beaten flew into his eye, and three days later he went blind. Overcome by the spiritual courage of the holy confessor, the judge ordered her to be beheaded. Sabina reverently committed the precious body to the earth.