Who is the patron saint of theater?

Answer 1

Theatre has two patron saints, both martyrs from the third century, who are invoked to protect actors from disaster.

ST. GENESIUS

St. Genesius, according to legend, was a comedian who converted to Christianity. While performing a farcical version of Christian baptism on stage for the Emperor Diocletian (Roman Emperor and persecutor of the Church, born 245, died 313), Genesius suddenly had a revelation and refused to continue to make fun of Christianity. Diocletian was outraged and ordered the actor's death. He was tortured, torn with hooks, beheaded, and burned on stage. (He is also described as patron saint of lawyers, printers, and secretaries.) His feast day is August 25.

ST. VITUS

The story of the second theatrical patron saint is also ascribed to legend. St. Vitus exorcised Emperor Diocletian's son of evil spirits that caused him to twitch uncontrollably. (We now know that is caused by chorea, a temporary disorder of those parts of the brain that control movements and coordination and causing continuous, involuntary jerking movements now called "St. Vitus dance" and known also as Sydenham's Chorea and Rheumatic Chorea.)

Despite the service to his son, the emperor was outraged that Vitus pronounced his belief in Christianity, accused him of sorcery, and placed him in a vat of boiling water. Vitus emerged unharmed, and an angel helped him escape Rome. The beautiful St. Vitus's Cathedral is the largest and the most important church in Prague. (He is also the patron saint of comedians and dancers, and he is invoked against epilepsy.) His feast day is June 15.

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