The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Agapius was born in the early fourth century, though the place of his birth is not known. He became a shepherd of souls in a time of fierce persecution, succeeding Theotecnus as bishop of Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Palestine. Around AD 304 he was arrested for his Christian faith and spent two long years in prison, enduring repeated tortures and being brought again and again into the public arena to face judges who hoped he might save himself by denying Christ. At last Agapius was presented before the emperor Maximinus and offered a pardon if he would renounce the Gospel. He refused, choosing fidelity over safety. Tradition recounts that he even ran forward to meet a bear set upon him; though badly mauled, he survived. The next day, with stones tied to his feet, he was drowned in the Mediterranean, completing his witness in AD 306. Venerated as a martyr, he is honored as a patron of Cesiomaggiore. His feast day is celebrated on November 21.

Saint Giovanni Vincenzo, also known as Giovanni da Besate, was born in Besate in Lombardy into a prominent Christian family. Before his episcopal ministry, he served the Church at the cathedral of Pavia, and for a time embraced the hidden life of a hermit, following the example of Saint Romuald of Ravenna. In 983 he was chosen to succeed Honestus as Archbishop of Ravenna, where he combined pastoral care with steadfast service to the wider Church. Soon after his election he traveled to Aachen and, on Christmas Day 983, joined Archbishop Willigis of Mainz in crowning the young Otto III—an extraordinary moment in which Giovanni represented Italy in the history of the Empire. In the years that followed, he worked amid complex ecclesial and political tensions, accompanying Pope Gregory V and receiving confirmations of Ravenna’s privileges. His final recorded activity dates to March 998, after which the see soon passed to another. Venerated for his faithful shepherding and humility rooted in prayer, he is honored as patron of Sant’Ambrogio di Torino. His feast day is November 21.

Saint Maurus of Parentium is remembered as the early shepherd and martyr of Parentium, the Roman-era city now known as Poreč in Croatia. Tradition holds that he was of noble Roman birth and became the city’s first bishop, guiding a young Christian community with steadfast faith. Another ancient account describes him as a pilgrim from Africa who, arriving in Istria, was swept up in the fierce persecution under Emperor Diocletian and bore witness to Christ with his life. From the earliest centuries, the Church of Poreč treasured his memory. A basilica dating to the late fourth century was dedicated to him and guarded his relics, and the magnificent basilica built in 553 still honors him in its apse mosaics. Though his remains were stolen in 1354 and taken to Genoa, they were reverently returned to Poreč in 1934, where they are again venerated. Saint Maurus is especially honored as patron of Poreč and several towns in the region. His feast day is November 21.