Equitius

Saint Equitius was an abbot of the sixth century, born between 480 and 490 in the region of Valeria Suburbicaria (present L'Aquila, Rieti and Tivoli), the founder of a number of monasteries in the province of Valeria in Italy. He reposed around 540.

Saint Gregory the Great mentions him in his Dialogues (I, 4) and says that he was a follower of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Equitius worked to spread monasticism in Italy and the West but was never ordained a priest. Yet his reputation for sanctity was such that he was able to recruit many new monks in Valeria, many of whom later acquired high office within the Church. When complaints were made about his standing, the pope sent a priest named Julian to investigate and ended the investigation after receiving his report. He is commemorated on 11 August as a saint of the undivided Church, by the New Calendar.