Vitalis

Who they were

Vitalis and Agricola were martyred at Bologna about 304, in the persecution under Diocletian. Agricola, loved for his gentleness, converted his slave Vitalis to Christianity, and the two became deeply attached to each other. Vitalis died first, in the amphitheatre; Agricola, whom the persecutors tried in vain to win over by torture and flattery, was crucified.

In 393 St. Ambrose and Bishop Eusebius of Bologna moved their remains to a church, and Ambrose, whose sermon is the only source for their lives, took relics of them to Florence. Their feast is 4 November.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A slave of Bologna martyred with Agricola, the master who had brought him to the faith.

Connected on this site

• Vitalis and Agricola Saint honoured together
• Eusebius of Bologna Saint
  “Ambrose and Bishop Eusebius of Bologna moved their remains to a church, and Ambrose, whose sermon is the only source for their lives, took relics of them to Florence.” — this site's research