Deacon. Martyr and Saint

St. Vincent the Deacon

                                 

St. Vincent the Deacon

Feastday: January 22
Patron of São Vicente, Lisbon; Vicenza, Italy, vinegar-makers, wine-makers.
Died: 304

Deacon and martyr. Born at Huesca, Spain, he became a deacon and served St, Valerius at Saragossa until their martyrdom at Valencia during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). St. Valerius was exiled, but Vincent was cruelly tortured because he would not surrender the holy books. He converted the warden of the prison and then died. He was honored by Sts. Augustine, Pope Leo I, and Prudentius, and is considered the patron saint of vinedressers in some regions of Spain.