Agathius

Saint Agathius (Greek: Ακακιος; died 303), also known as Acacius of Byzantium, Achatius, or Agathonas to Christian tradition, was a Cappadocian Greek centurion of the imperial army, martyred around 304. A church existed in Constantinople associated with Acacius and possibly named after him: the Church of St Acacius.[3]

This article is about the Roman Catholic Saint. For the 6th century Byzantine historian, see Agathias.
Saint Acacius
The Martyrdom of Saint Agathius. 16th century work by an anonymous artist from Toledo.
Martyr
BornCappadocia
Died~303
Byzantium
Venerated inCatholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church[1]
Major shrineCathedral of Squillace, Italy[2]
Feast7 May (formerly 8 May); 16 January (translation of relics)
Attributespalm of martyrdom; centurion with a bunch of thorns; in armor with standard and shield; depicted with Theodore of Amasea
Patronagesoldiers; Squillace; Guardavalle; invoked against headache

History

Agathius was arrested on charges for being a Christian by Tribune Firmus in Perinthus, Thrace, tortured and then brought to Byzantium where he was scourged and beheaded, being made a martyr because he would not renounce his Christian faith.

The date of his martyrdom is traditionally May 8, when his feast is observed.

Veneration

His relics were relocated 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. Agathius is also venerated in Slovenia, where numerous churches and chapels are dedicated to him; this popular veneration goes back to the 16th century, when he was considered the patron saint of the fighters against the Ottoman Turks.[6] For the same reason he became popular among the Maniots, inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula in Greece, who took up his confrontation of the Pagan Roman authorities as a symbol of their own long lasting resistance of the Ottoman Empire's rule.

St. Achatius is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers or Auxiliary Saints.

References
  1. (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀκάκιος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ κεντυρίων. 7 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  2. "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Squillace". www.newadvent.org.
  3. Woods, David (2001). "The Church of "St." Acacius at Constantinople". Vigiliae Christianae. 55 (2): 201–207. doi:10.2307/1584527. ISSN 0042-6032.
  4. Barnish, Samuel J., "Select Abstracts"
  5. "Sant' Agazio (Acacio) su santiebeati.it". Santiebeati.it.
  6. "Koledar svetnikov - Ahacij in tovariši". www.druzina.si.
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