St Agapetus (Agapitus), Pope of Rome
Commemorated April 17
Saint Agapitus, Bishop of Rome, was a zealous adherent of Orthodoxy. By his pious life he won the general esteem and was elevated to the See of Rome in the year 535.
The Gothic king Theodoric the Great sent Agapitus to Constantinople for peace negotiations. Along the way, St Agapitus encountered a man who was lame and mute. He healed him of his lameness, and after receiving the Holy Mysteries the mute one spoke. After arriving in Constantinople, the saint healed a blind beggar.
At that time, a local Council was convened in Constantinople. St Agapitus participated in it and zealously defended the Orthodox teaching against the heretic Severus, who taught that the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ was subject to decay similar to every man's body.
St Agapitus died at Constantinople in the year 536.
Troparion
As a rule of faith and model of tenderness, and teacher of abstinence hath the reality shewn thee unto thy flock; there withal hast thou acquired by humility greatness, by poverty riches; O father hierarch Agapetus, intercede before Christ the God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion
O divine thunder, spiritual trumpet, planter of faith and cutter off of heresies, great favourite of the Trinity, hierarch Agapetus, standing with the angels before God do ever and unceasingly pray for us all.
Source: Crkveni Kalendar
