ローマのビビアナ(ビビアネ、ヴィヴィアナ、ヴィヴィアンとも表記される)は、初期キリスト教の処女殉教者である。信頼できる歴史的資料における最古の記述は『教皇列伝』にあり、シンプリキウス教皇(468~483年)の伝記の中で、この教皇が「聖なる殉教者ビビアナのバシリカを聖別し、その中に彼女の遺体が安置されていた。場所は『リキニアヌム宮殿』の近くである」と記されている(デュシェーヌ編、I、249)。サンタ・ビビアナ大聖堂は彼女に捧げられている。[ 1 ]
伝説によると、ビビアナはかつて総督であったフラウィアヌスの娘で、フラウィアヌスは背教者ユリアヌスによって追放された。彼の妻ダフロサと二人の娘、デメトリアとビビアナもユリアヌスによって迫害された。ダフロサとデメトリアは自然死し、ビビアナによって自宅に埋葬されたが、ビビアナは拷問を受け、その苦しみの結果として亡くなった。[ 2 ]ビビアナの死後二日、ヨハネという名の司祭がビビアナを母と妹のそばの自宅に埋葬し、その家は後に教会に改築された。この伝説は、教会の起源と、そこに前述の証人たちの遺体が存在する理由をこのように説明しようとしていることは明らかである。9世紀の殉教者伝に記されている記述は、この伝説に基づいている。[ 3 ]

An alternate account says that in the year 363, Emperor Julian made Apronianus Governor of Rome. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. She was the daughter of Christians, Flavian, a Roman knight, and Dafrosa, his wife. Flavian was tortured and sent into exile, where he died of his wounds. Dafrosa was beheaded, and their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer poverty. However, they remained in their house, spending their time in fasting and prayer. Apronianus, seeing that hunger and want had no effect upon them, summoned them. Demetria, after confessing her faith, fell dead at the feet of the tyrant. Bibiana was reserved for greater sufferings. She was placed in the hands of a wicked woman called Rufina, who in vain endeavored to seduce her. She used blows as well as persuasion, but the Christian virgin remained faithful. Enraged at the constancy of this saintly virgin, Apronianus ordered her to be tied to a pillar and beaten with scourges, laden with lead plummets, until she died.[4] The saint endured the torments with joy, and died under the blows inflicted by the hands of the executioner. Her body was then put in the open air to be torn apart by wild animals, yet none would touch it. After two days she was buried.[5]
The above-mentioned Bibiana (of the 4th century) should not be confused with Vibiana (of the 3rd century), who is the patroness of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.[6]