He is best known for ‘St.Vitus Dance’ and so it should come as no surprise to know that he is the patron saint of actors and dancers. What is Vitus Dance? It is a popular name given for the condition that causes twitches and convulsions, medically known as Sydenham’s Chorea. There was a great outbreak during the time of Vitus thought to have been caused by bites from poisonous spiders but there are other causes such as rabies, snakebite, epilepsy and food poisoning. People with this condition called to Vitus who healed many including the Roman Emperor’s son.
His name spread far and wide in the Middle Ages.


Matthew 10:1 is assigned to the feast of St.Vitus: “Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every disease and every sickness.”