DEMETRIADE. - A Roman virgin and disciple of Jerome, daughter of the consul and senator Olybrius, of the Probus family, and of Juliana, of the Anicia family, born between the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th. Having taken refuge in Carthage during the invasion of the empire by the Goths, she won the admiration and goodwill of all for her beauty and rare moral virtues. She was on the point of entering into the married state when, having heard a discourse by St. Augustine on the merits of virginity, she decided to consecrate herself entirely to God. Then St. Jerome, at the invitation of her mother and grandmother Proba, addressed a letter to her, to confirm her in the path she had undertaken and to warn her of the dangers that would put her resolve to the test.
Besides Augustine and Jerome, Pope Innocent I and Pelagius—who was not yet an open supporter of his heterodox ideas—also addressed various writings to her. Soon the example of D. was followed by many of her relatives and servants, so that her home was transformed into a domestic monastery. With the changing of events she returned to Rome, always persevering in her ascetic purpose and benefiting all. During the pontificate of St. Leo (440-61), she built at her own expense the basilica of St. Stephen on the Via Latina. This is the last certain piece of information we have about D.