Pelagius of Novigrad

Saint Pelagius was born in Pannonia to wealthy Christian parents, in the early days when the Church still lived under the shadow of persecution. Drawn to serve Christ and His people, he became a deacon, giving his life to the humble ministries of prayer, charity, and the proclamation of the Gospel. During the reign of the emperor Numerian, Pelagius was arrested in the imperial crackdown on Christians. Though still a young man, he endured severe torture rather than deny the Lord he loved, and he sealed his witness with martyrdom around the year 283. Little else is known of his earthly story, yet the Church remembers him for what matters most: steadfast faith, courageous confession, and fidelity unto death. Pelagius was first especially honored in Novigrad in Istria, and he is revered in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. He is regarded as patron of Novigrad, and also of Konstanz through the later transfer of relics associated with him. His feast day is August 28.