Vitalis and Agricola
Roman era saints
Feast: 4 November (1962 Missal, commemoration) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Agricola, loved for his gentleness, converted his slave Vitalis, and the two became deeply attached to each other. In Diocletian's persecution around 304 at Bologna, Vitalis was martyred first, in the amphitheatre; Agricola, whom neither torture nor flattery could move, was crucified.
In 393 St Ambrose and Bishop Eusebius of Bologna moved their remains to a church, and Ambrose's sermon on the occasion is the only source for their lives.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: they have been honoured as martyrs since the fourth century.
Why that counted as sanctity
A master and his slave, made brothers in Christ, gave their lives for Him together.
Connected on this site
- Agricola of Bologna Saint one of this group
- Vitalis Saint one of this group
- Agricola of Bologna Saint“Vitalis and Agricola were martyred at Bologna about 304, in the persecution under Diocletian.” — this site's research
- Eusebius of Bologna Saint“In 393 St Ambrose and Bishop Eusebius of Bologna moved their remains to a church, and Ambrose's sermon on the occasion is the only source for their lives.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Sts. Vitalis and Agricola
- Wikidata Q203177 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Saints Vitalis and Agricola (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.