| Saint Agathius | |
|---|---|
 The Martyrdom of Saint Agathius. 16th century work by an anonymous artist from Toledo. |
|
| Martyr | |
| Born | Cappadocia |
| Died | ~303[1], Byzantium |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism; Eastern Orthodoxy |
| Major shrine | Cathedral of Squillace, Italy[2] |
| Feast | 8 May[1]; 16 January (translation of relics) |
| Attributes | palm of martyrdom; centurion with a bunch of thorns; in armor with standard and shield; depicted with Theodore of Amasea |
| Patronage | soldiers; Squillace; Guardavalle; invoked against headache |
Saint Agathius, also known as Achatius[1] or Acacius of Byzantium[3] was a Cappadocian centurion of the imperial army. He was arrested for his faith on charges by Tribune Firmus in Perinthus, Thrace, tortured, and then brought to Byzantium (Constantinople), where he was scourged and beheaded, being made a martyr because he would not give up his Christian Faith.
The date of martyrdom is traditionally May 8, when his feast is observed.
Veneration
Constantine the Great built a church in his honour. His relics were translated ca. 630 to a spring at Squillace, close by the Vivarium, the monastery founded in the previous century by Cassiodorus in the heel of Italy[4]. He was known in Squillace as San Agario. A relic of his arm was brought to Guardavalle in 1584 by the bishop of Squillace, Marcello Sirleto, hence Agathius' patronage of this city. Relics from Squillace were also brought to Cuenca and Ávila in Spain, where he is known as San Acato.[5]
St. Achatius is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers or Auxiliary Saints.
External links
References
- ^ a b c http://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/ncd00085.htm
- ^
"Squillace" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia. - ^ Patron Saints Index: Saint Acacius of Byzantium
- ^ Select Abstracts
- ^ Sant' Agazio (Acacio)
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