In the earliest documents concerning first congregation here (fourth century AD), the parish is called titulus Lucinae (the titlechurch of Lucina). Later, under pope Sixtus III (432-440) a basilica was built on the site, and consecrated to the saint Laurentius. The two names however continued to exist side by side, and eventually the church becomes San Lorenzo in Lucina.  

In the early sources of Christian Rome there is also mention of a saint called Lucina.  

One of the first mentions is in the sixth century Liber Pontificalis in the biography of pope Cornelius (251-253), where a matron by the name of Lucina helped pope Cornelius to move the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul from the burial place ad Catacumbas by the via Appia. The body of Paul was buried in the estate of Lucina by the via Ostiensis.  

There are further a number of passiones of the Roman martyrs which include a matron called Lucina, who at periods varying from the times of Nero (first century AD) to the Church Peace in 312 helps to bury the bodies of martyrs, at different locations around Rome. In some references it is also said that this same person donated her house as a church.  

The totally eleven sources relating to the saint Lucina are of a "legendary" character. The opinion among scholars varies from that there existed three different persons called Lucina, and that there existed one, that later gave rise to all the different stories about her.   

In this part of the project the different sources relating to the titulus Lucinae and the saint Lucina will be sorted out. It is impossible in our time, with the contradictory evidence we have, to say for certain if a Lucina existed, or how many Lucinae there were. It is nevertheless interesting to see the rôle played by wealthy women in the creation of congregations and churches in the early history of Christian Rome, and how a saint was created.