Vitalis of Milan

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For homonymous saints, see Saint Vitalis

Saint Vitalis of Milan
The martyrdom of Saint Vitalis. This 14th century French manuscript depicts Vitalis being buried alive.
Born
Died	~1st century or 2nd century
Feast	April 28
Attributes	with Saint Gervase and Saint Protase
Patronage	Thibodeaux, Louisiana
Saints Portal

Saint Vitalis of Milan, known as San Vitale in Italian, was an early Christian martyr.

[edit] Biography

According to an account that is doubtlessly spurious, Vitalis was a wealthy citizen of Milan, perhaps a soldier. He was married to Saint Valeria, and they were the parents of the perhaps legendary Saints Gervasius and Protasius. According to legend, when he encouraged Saint Ursicinus of Ravenna to be steadfast at his execution, Vitalis was discovered to be a Christian. A judge named Paulinus ordered Vitalis to be racked and then buried alive in a pit with stones on his head.

The date of his martyrdom is uncertain – some sources say that he was a victim of Nero, others of Marcus Aurelius. He was martyred near Milan, but all else in the story is suspect. Some writers argue that he may have been a character in a work of fiction that was mistaken for history.

[edit] Veneration

The feast of Saint Vitalis occurs on 28 April. Churches are dedicated in honor of Saint Vitalis at Rome, Faenza, Rimini, Como, Ferrara, Venice and Verona, in Italy, and at Jadera (now Zadar) in Dalmatia, but by far the most famous church bearing his name is the octagonal Basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna, a masterpiece of Byzantine art. He is also the patron saint of Thibodaux, Louisiana, along with his wife, St. Valeria.