Agapius of Caesarea

Holy Martyr Agapius of Caesarea in Palestine was put to death at Caesarea in the year 306. His martyrdom is recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea in his work The Martyrs of Palestine. He is regarded as a saint by the Catholic Church; the sources do not give the same date for his commemoration: 20 November and 19 August according to one, 15 March by the old calendar (28 March by the new) according to the Serbian source.

Agapius succeeded Theotecnus on the episcopal throne of Caesarea Maritima. He was arrested in the year 304. He remained in prison two years and was tortured on several occasions. He was brought out into the arena many times and presented to the judges. There he was threatened and kept for later games. The judges, Eusebius observes, must have been moved either by compassion or by the hope that he might change his mind and renounce Christianity.

Finally he was brought into the arena and presented to the emperor Maximinus. He was offered pardon on condition that he renounce his faith. According to Eusebius, he not only refused the offer, but is said to have cheerfully rushed headlong at the bear. The beast inflicted grave wounds, but Agapius remained alive. The next day stones were tied to his feet and he was drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.