Agapitus of Palestrina
Agapitus is venerated as a martyr saint, who died on August 18, perhaps in 274, a date that the latest editions of the Roman Martyrology say is uncertain.
According to his legend, 16-year-old Agapitus, who may have been a member of the noble Anicia family of Palestrina, was condemned to death, under the prefect Antiochus and the Emperor Aurelian, for being a Christian. After being captured and tortured during the persecution of Aurelian, he was taken to the local arena in Palestrina and thrown to the wild beasts. However, the animals refused to touch him and so he was beheaded.
Patron saint of Palestrina; invoked against colic
In the Martyrology
- August 18 Saint Agapito, martyr at Palestrina in Lazio