Acacius | |
---|---|
Holy Helper, Martyr | |
Born | late-3rd century Cappadocia |
Died | ~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: Ἅγιος Ἀκάκιος; died 303), also known as Agathius 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]