Equitius the Deacon

Equitius the Deacon was a deacon of Telesia (Telese) in southern Italy in the 9th century, and is honored together with Bishop Palerius of Telese. He is remembered on 18 June.

Almost nothing is known of his life. He was the deacon of Bishop Palerius and, according to tradition, fled with him from Telesia, after the city was laid waste by the Saracens and the earthquake of 848, to San Martino Valle Caudina. The remains of the two were found in the 12th century, and those of Equitius are kept, like those of Palerius, in the church of Saint John the Baptist at San Martino Valle Caudina since 1713. The Congregation of Rites set his remembrance on 18 June in 1795, and that of Palerius on 16 June.

He is a local saint of the West; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known.