Saint Placidus (martyr)

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Saint Placidus the Martyr, by Pietro Perugino

Saint Placidus (Placitus), along with Saints Eutychius (Euticius), Victorinus and their sister Flavia, Donatus, Firmatus the deacon, Faustus, and thirty others, were venerated as Christian martyrs. They were said to be martyred either by pirates at Messina or under Diocletian.

In their Acts, Saint Placidus was confused with the follower of St. Benedict, also named Placidus (see Saint Placidus). Thus, the legend of his the other Placidus relates that he went into Italy in 541, and founded a monastery at Messina, of which he became abbot. There he was martyred with thirty companions. Their feast day is October 5.