Rictius Varus

Rictius Varus (Rictiovarus, Rixius 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:

*Valerius and Rufinus [ [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0614.htm Saints of June 14 ] ]
*Saint Quentin [ [http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/10-31.htm Lives of the Saints, October 31, Saint Quentin ] ]
*Crispin [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04491a.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sts. Crispin and Crispinian ] ]
*Gentian, Fulcian and Victorice [ [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden135.htm The Golden
] ] .

In legend, he killed himself in despair after failing to kill Crispin and Crispinian [ [http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/RESEARCH/DOCS/cc.htm Footwear of the Middle Ages - Shoemaking and Saints ] ] . Some doubt has been cast upon his existence.http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0706.htm]

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)."

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