Rictius Varus
Encyclopedia
Rictius Varus was reportedly a prefect in Roman
Gaul
at the end of the third century. He was appointed by the Emperor Maximian
, and severely persecuted Christians. He is mentioned in Christian martyrologies. He occurs in the stories of:
In legend, he killed himself in despair after failing to kill Crispin and Crispinian. Some doubt has been cast upon his existence.
Other sources state that he repented and became a Christian martyr himself, with the Roman Martyrology stating: "On the same day the holy martyr Lucy, a native of Campania
, who, being tried and sharply tortured under the vicar Rixius Varus, converted him to Christ... They suffered and were crowned together." As a martyr, Rictius had a feast day of July 6, and he also appears on this date in the Eastern Orthodox calendar
: "Virgin-martyrs Lucy, Rixius, and with them martyrs Anthony, Lucian, Isidore, Dion, Diodorus, Cutonius, Arnosus, Capicus, and Satyrus at Rome (301)."
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
at the end of the third century. He was appointed by the Emperor Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
, and severely persecuted Christians. He is mentioned in Christian martyrologies. He occurs in the stories of:
- Valerius and RufinusValerius and RufinusValerius and Rufinus are venerated as Christian saints and martyrs. Their legend states that they were imperial tax collectors in Soissons who were pious Christians. They were ordered to be arrested by Rictius Varus, the praefectus-praetorii in Gaul...
- Saint QuentinSaint QuentinSaint Quentin , Quintinus in Latin, also known as Quentin of Amiens, is an early Christian saint. No real details are known of his life.-Martyrdom:...
- Crispin and CrispinianCrispinSaints Crispin and Crispinian are the French Christian patron saints of cobblers, tanners, and leather workers. Born to a noble Roman family in the 3rd century AD, Saints Crispin and Crispinian, twin brothers, fled persecution for their faith, ending up in Soissons, where they preached Christianity...
- Gentian, Fulcian and Victorice.
- Donatian and RogatianDonatian and RogatianDonatien and Rogatian were two brothers, martyred in Nantes during the reign of Roman Emperor Maximian, around 288-290, for refusing to deny their faith. They are also known as les enfants nantais. Their feast day is May 24.- Life :...
In legend, he killed himself in despair after failing to kill Crispin and Crispinian. Some doubt has been cast upon his existence.
Other sources state that he repented and became a Christian martyr himself, with the Roman Martyrology stating: "On the same day the holy martyr Lucy, a native of Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, who, being tried and sharply tortured under the vicar Rixius Varus, converted him to Christ... They suffered and were crowned together." As a martyr, Rictius had a feast day of July 6, and he also appears on this date in the Eastern Orthodox calendar
July 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
July 5 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - July 7All fixed commemorations below celebrated on July 19 by Old Calendarists-Saints:*Venerable Sisoes the Great of Egypt...
: "Virgin-martyrs Lucy, Rixius, and with them martyrs Anthony, Lucian, Isidore, Dion, Diodorus, Cutonius, Arnosus, Capicus, and Satyrus at Rome (301)."