Agapius of Palestine ( el, Άγιος Ἀγάπιος, from the Greek αγάπη, love) was a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an externa ...

from Gaza, beheaded along with seven others by order of Urban, governor of Palestine, in the year 303 or 304 under the

Great Persecution The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal right ...

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος ; 260/265 – 30 May 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilus (from the grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος τοῦ Παμφίλου), was a Greek historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian ...

records that Timolaus of Pontus, Dionysius from Tripolis in Phœnicia, Romulus, said to have been sub-deacon of the parish of Diospolis, Plæsius of Egypt, and two men named Alexander, one from Gaza and the other from Gazahad. These six young men bound themselves and surrendered to Urban in the hopes of becoming martyrs. They openly professed their Christianity and said that their faith made them unafraid of the wild animals of the arena. Urban had them put into prison. A few days later they were joined by two others, one a certain Dionysius, and the other Agapius, who is said to have been tortured in the past for his faith. All eight were beheaded in

Caesarea Maritima Caesarea Maritima (; Greek: ''Parálios Kaisáreia''), formerly Strato's Tower, also known as Caesarea Palestinae, was an ancient city in the Sharon plain on the coast of the Mediterranean, now in ruins and included in an Israeli national park ...

on the same day. His feast day is observed on March 24. The Greek Orthodox Church observes his memory on March 15.Agios Agapios and the Marturs with him: Plesios, Romylos, Timolaos, Alexandros, Alexandros (other), Dionysios and Dionysios (other). Orthodoxos Synaxaristes (in Greek language)
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References

* Eusebius, ''

Martyrs of Palestine ''On the Martyrs of Palestine'' is a work by church historian and Bishop of Caesarea, Eusebius (AD 263 – 339), relating the persecution of Christians in Caesarea under Roman Emperor Diocletian. The work survives in two forms, a shorter recensio ...

'' 3.
Eusebius Martyrs of Palestine Chapter 3

St. Agapius: Catholic Online, Saints & Angels

* ttp://www.serbianorthodoxchurch.net/cgi-bin/saints.cgi?view=790662099630 St. Agapius and the seven with him: Serbian Orthodox Church 4th-century Christian martyrs Saints from the Holy Land People executed by decapitation People from Gaza City Christians martyred during the reign of Diocletian {{Saint-stub