Vitaly from Bologna

According to legend, during the reign of Diocletian Agricola was a Christian from Bologna, who converted his servant Vitaly to Christianity. They were very attached to each other. Vitaly was executed in the amphitheater . Then the authorities began to torment Agricola, but he did not renounce his faith, for which he was crucified.

Information about Saints Vitali and Agricole is known from the writings of St. Ambrose of Mediolan . ^[1] In 392 or 393, Eusebius, Bishop of Bologna, announced the acquisition of the relics of Saints Vitali and Agricola in the Jewish cemetery of Bologna. In the presence of St. Ambrose they were reburied according to the Christian rite. Since then, widespread veneration of these saints began.

The veneration of saints began to spread throughout Western Europe since the particles of the relics were transferred to Milan and Florence under the care of Saint Ambrose. He brought some blood, pieces of a cross and nails to Florence, placing the shrines in a church erected by a woman named Juliana. On this occasion, he composed a prayer praising virginity, with a special mention of the three daughters, virgins Juliana. His mention of the martyrs Agricole and Vitaly in this prayer is the only source testifying to the life of these two saints ("De exhortatione virginitatis", cc. Iu, in PL, XVI, 335).

In 396, other relics were sent to St. Victory , Bishop of Rouen, and at about the same time to St. Peacock and others. The center of veneration remained Bologna , where a basilica was built for the relics.

The Bologna Church of Saints Vitali and Agricola in the arena - part of a complex of seven churches known as Santo Stefano , was built in such a way as to cover the remains of the old amphitheater where saints Vitali and Agricola were killed. The crypt of two martyrs dates from the 11th century . ^{[2] [3] [4]}

• Vitalis and agricola
• (Italian) Santi Vitale e Agricola