Saint Acacius
Saint Acacius of Amida (also known as Acacius of Amid or Acacius the Bishop; died c. 425 AD) was the Bishop of Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey) who performed one of the most celebrated acts of Christian charity in the early Church — selling the gold and silver sacred vessels of his cathedral to ransom seven thousand Persian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Roman army and were dying of hunger and illness in Amida. His action not only saved thousands of lives but also helped bring about a peace between the Roman and Persian Empires, and was recorded with admiration by the pagan historian Sozomen and by Theodoret of Cyrrhus, who knew Acacius personally. His heroic charity and his holiness as a bishop earned him a place in the Roman Martyrology and the veneration of the Eastern Church.
Saint Acacius is distinct from several other saints of the same name, including Saint Acacius of Cappadocia (a soldier martyred c. 303 AD, one of the Holy Ten Thousand Martyrs) and Acacius of Constantinople (the controversial patriarch, d. 489 AD, who caused the Acacian Schism and is not venerated as a saint). The article below focuses on Acacius of Amida, the charitable bishop.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Acacius
| Saint Acacius | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 09 |
| Profession | Bishop of Amida |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Eastern Christianity; Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Patronage | Prisoners of war; the poor |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; empty chalice or sacred vessels (representing the sold sacred plate); prisoners |
| Birthplace | Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey) |
| Death Place | Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; confessor bishop |
| Liturgical Class | Not included |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
The birth date of Saint Acacius is not confirmed in available historical sources. He was bishop of Amida, an important frontier city of the Roman Empire on the upper Tigris River (in present-day southeastern Turkey, where it is known as Diyarbakır). Amida lay close to the disputed frontier between Rome and Sassanid Persia, making it a city frequently affected by the wars between the two great powers.
Early Life
The early life of Saint Acacius is not described in available historical sources. He is first attested as bishop of Amida in the fifth century, apparently having risen to that position through the normal channels of ecclesiastical advancement. His name is Greek in origin (Acacius means "one without guile," from the Greek akakos).
Occupation
Saint Acacius was bishop of Amida, responsible for the spiritual care of its Christian population and for the administration of ecclesiastical property. The bishop's duties in this frontier city also brought him into contact with the harsh realities of warfare on the Roman-Persian frontier.
Vocation
The act for which Saint Acacius is most celebrated occurred around 420–422 AD, during the aftermath of a war between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire under Yazdegerd I and Bahram V. Roman forces had captured approximately seven thousand Persian soldiers and civilians, who were being held in and around Amida under conditions of terrible privation — dying of hunger and exposure.
Bishop Acacius reportedly said to his clergy: "Our God has no need of either gold or silver plate, for He neither eats nor drinks." He then ordered the gold and silver liturgical vessels of the cathedral of Amida — chalices, patens, censers, and other sacred plate — to be melted down and sold. With the proceeds he purchased food and provisions for the seven thousand Persian prisoners, nursed them back to health, and then sent them back to Persia as free men.
The effect was dramatic. The Persian king Bahram V, astonished by this act of mercy toward his own subjects by a Roman bishop, reportedly received the freed prisoners with honor. The Persian nobleman Mihrnarseh, who had led the war against Rome, is said to have been so moved that he facilitated a peace settlement between the two empires. The historian Theodoret of Cyrrhus (Historia Ecclesiastica, Book V, chapter 37) recorded this story with personal admiration, noting that he knew Acacius. The pagan historian Sozomen also recorded the story favorably.
This act of charity is one of the most vividly documented humanitarian actions of any saint in late antiquity, attested by multiple near-contemporary sources and celebrated as an example of Christian love overcoming the boundaries of war and religion.
Death
Saint Acacius died around 425 AD in Amida, having served as bishop for many years. He died peacefully as a confessor, revered by his flock.
Saint Acacius met his end in Amida, having spent his episcopal life in pastoral care and in the heroic charity that made his name synonymous with mercy toward prisoners of war.
Significant events
- Served as Bishop of Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, Turkey) in the early fifth century.
- During the Roman-Persian war of c. 420–422 AD, seven thousand Persian prisoners were held near Amida in conditions of extreme deprivation.
- Sold the gold and silver liturgical vessels of his cathedral to purchase food and provisions for the Persian prisoners.
- Nursed the Persian prisoners back to health and freed them.
- His act of mercy contributed to peace negotiations between the Roman and Persian Empires.
- His story was recorded by Theodoret of Cyrrhus and Sozomen, near-contemporary historians who knew him.
- Died peacefully c. 425 AD; feast day observed on April 9.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey)
Death location: Amida (present-day Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey)
Notable location: His episcopal see; site of his ministry and the Persian prisoner rescue (Amida (Diyarbakır), southeastern Turkey)
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Acacius have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
No shrines formally dedicated to Saint Acacius of Amida meeting the canonical definition of Canon 1230 have been identified in current sources.
Canonization
Servant of God
Saint Acacius was not subjected to a modern formal canonization process. His recognition rests on ancient tradition and his inclusion in the Roman Martyrology.
Venerable
Not applicable.
Beatification
Not applicable.
Canonization
Saint Acacius is recognized as a saint by ancient tradition, included in the Roman Martyrology and venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Miracles
No specific miracles attributed to Saint Acacius have been formally authenticated through a modern canonical process. His reputation for holiness rests on his extraordinary act of charity toward the Persian prisoners, documented by reliable near-contemporary historians.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Other notable miracles
- Theodoret of Cyrrhus attributes a providential quality to the chain of events — that Acacius's charity toward Persian prisoners helped bring about peace between Rome and Persia.
Patronage
Saint Acacius is venerated as a patron of prisoners of war and of the poor.
Feast day
April 9 (Roman Martyrology)
Veneration
Saint Acacius of Amida is venerated in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions as an outstanding example of Christian charity. His extraordinary act of selling the Church's sacred gold to feed and free seven thousand enemy prisoners of war is one of the most celebrated examples of Christian humanitarianism in the patristic era. He is remembered particularly on the feast of April 9.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
- Theodoret of Cyrrhus. Historia Ecclesiastica (Ecclesiastical History), Book V, chapter 37. c. 449 AD. Primary source.
- Sozomen. Historia Ecclesiastica (Ecclesiastical History). Primary source.
- Acta Sanctorum, April vol. I. Hagiographic collection.
Written by the saint
- No writings by Saint Acacius have been identified.
External links
References
- Theodoret of Cyrrhus. Historia Ecclesiastica, Book V, chapter 37.
- Sozomen. Historia Ecclesiastica.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.
- Acta Sanctorum, April I (April 9). Antwerp/Brussels, 1643–1940.