# Agathius

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Christian saint (died 303)

This article is about the Christian Saint. For the 6th century Byzantine historian, see [Agathias](/source/Agathias).

Saint Acacius The Martyrdom of Saint Agathius. 16th century work by an anonymous artist from Toledo. Holy Helper, Martyr Born late-3rd century Cappadocia Died c. 303 Byzantium Venerated in Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church[1] Major shrine Cathedral of Squillace, Italy[2] Feast 7 May (formerly 8 May); 16 January (translation of relics) Attributes palm of martyrdom, centurion with a bunch of thorns, in armour with standard and shield, depicted with Theodore of Amasea Patronage soldiers, Squillace, Guardavalle, invoked against headache

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

## History

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

The date of his martyrdom is traditionally 8 May, when his feast was observed. It was later moved to 7 May.[4]

## Veneration

His relics were relocated *ca.* 630 to a spring at [Squillace](/source/Squillace), close by the Vivarium, the monastery founded in the previous century by [Cassiodorus](/source/Cassiodorus) in the heel of [Italy](/source/Italy).[5] He was known in [Squillace](/source/Squillace) as *San Agario*. A relic of his arm was brought to [Guardavalle](/source/Guardavalle) in 1584 by the [bishop of Squillace](/source/Bishop_of_Squillace), Marcello Sirleto, hence Agathius' patronage of this city. Relics from Squillace were also brought to [Cuenca](/source/Cuenca%2C_Spain) and [Ávila](/source/%C3%81vila%2C_Spain) in [Spain](/source/Spain), where he is known as *San Acato*.[6]

St. Agathius is also venerated in [Slovenia](/source/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](/source/Ottoman_Turks).[7] For the same reason he became popular among the [Maniots](/source/Maniots), inhabitants of the [Mani Peninsula](/source/Mani_Peninsula) in [Greece](/source/Greece), who took up his confrontation of the Pagan Roman authorities as a symbol of their own long lasting resistance of the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire)'s rule.

St. Achatius is one of the [Fourteen Holy Helpers](/source/Fourteen_Holy_Helpers) or Auxiliary Saints in Roman Catholic tradition.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** (in Greek) *[Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀκάκιος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ κεντυρίων](http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3053/sxsaintinfo.aspx).* 7 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Squillace"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14239a.htm). *www.newadvent.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Woods, David (2001). ["The Church of "St." Acacius at Constantinople"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/1584527). *Vigiliae Christianae*. **55** (2): 201–207. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1584527](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1584527). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0042-6032](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0042-6032). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1584527](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1584527).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Martyr Acacius the Centurion at Byzantium"](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/05/07/101313-martyr-acacius-the-centurion-at-byzantium). *www.oca.org*. Retrieved 2024-08-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-geo_5-0)** [Barnish, Samuel J., "Select Abstracts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110708132053/http://centreleonardboyle.com/otherlinks.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Sant' Agazio (Acacio) su santiebeati.it"](http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90216). *Santiebeati.it*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Koledar svetnikov - Ahacij in tovariši"](http://www.druzina.si/ICD/spletnastran.nsf/all/DEB5E348F09DBB68C1257022003AE455). *www.druzina.si*.

## External links

- [Santiebeati:Agathius](http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90216)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Saint Acacius](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Saint_Acacius).

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Authority control databases International VIAF GND People Deutsche Biographie

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Agathius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathius) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathius?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.