Agapius (died 306)

Agapius was a Christian martyr who suffered during the Diocletianic Persecution. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

According to tradition, Agapius was a soldier from Gaza in Palestine. During the persecutions initiated by Emperor Diocletian, he was arrested for his Christian faith along with several others. He was tortured and ultimately thrown to wild beasts in the arena at Caesarea Maritima. When the beasts refused to attack him, he and his companions were beheaded in 306 AD.

The feast day of Saint Agapius is celebrated on March 15th in the Eastern Orthodox Church, often commemorated alongside other Palestinian martyrs. In the Roman Catholic Church, he is commemorated on November 20th, along with other martyrs.

While historical details surrounding Agapius are scarce and reliant on martyrologies and hagiographical accounts, he remains a significant figure in the history of early Christian martyrdom, representing the courage and faith of believers during periods of intense persecution.