Boniface lived at the time of fierce persecutions of Christians and was executed in 290. He was one of the slaves and the lover of Aglaida, a rich young Roman woman; their sinful way of life weighed upon both of them. Aglaida learnt that if you had holy relics in your house and venerated them, you could find salvation. She sent Boniface to the East with some gold to buy the relics of a martyr. According to his hagiography, St. Boniface asked Aglaida, when saying their goodbyes, whether she would do honour to his body, if he himself suffered for Christ. The scene is shown at the bottom of the icon: Aglaida is holding out her arms to Boniface, while his companion is waving his hat in farewell.

Boniface went to Asia Minor, to the city of Tarsus, where he was overwhelmed to see the terrible suffering and tortures that were inflicted on Christians. He declared himself to be a Christian before the court and was sentenced to death by beheading with a sword. Boniface’s companions paid for his body and brought it to Rome. Aglaida summoned priests and paid homage to the martyr’s body. The last hagiographical image shows the church that Aglaida built in honour of Boniface, where the saint’s relics, considered to be miracle-working, were kept.