Rasyphus and Ravennus

Infobox Saint
name= Saints Rasyphus and Ravennus
birth_date=
death_date=5th century
feast_day= July 23
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


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birth_place= Britain
death_place=Bayeux or Macé
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attributes=palms of martyrdom
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Saints Rasyphus (Rasiphus) and Ravennus ( _fr. Saints Rasyphe et Raven, Ravenne [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/vdautomne04.php VD automne 2004 ] ] ) (fifth century [The Catholic Encyclopedia states that they were martyred in the 3rd century (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13681d.htm).] ) are venerated as Christian saints and martyrs. According to Christian tradition, they were natives of Britain who fled their country during the Anglo-Saxon invasions. They settled in Gaul and became hermits. They were then martyred, perhaps by Goths who adhered to Arianism.

The myth of foundation associated with the parish church of St-Aubin in Macé, Basse-Normandie, states that the two saints founded their hermitage near the site of the current building, near a miraculous spring of water. [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ]

There are several versions of their martyrdom. The first states that they were tossed against a great block of sandstone. Their heads dented the stone but the two saints were not hurt (there are two visible prints in the church of St-Aubin of Macé that are considered to be the marks made by the heads of the two saints). [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ] They were then decapitated and buried near the present grounds of St-Aubin de Macé; a tombstone marks the site of their former grave. [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ]

Veneration

The two saints were venerated as great healers, responsible for many miracles. [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ] They were venerated in the diocese of Séez. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13681d.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Seez ] ]

Their relics were taken from St-Aubin to Bayeux Cathedral during the Viking invasions. The relics were then taken to Caen during the Wars of Religion. [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ] Finally, they were taken to Grancey in Champagne, where they rest today. [ [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php Macé ] ] Their feast day is July 23.

A medieval text called "Ravennus et Rasiphus mm. Baiocis" exists. [ [http://bhlms.fltr.ucl.ac.be/Nquerysaintrubrique.cfm?code_dossier=Ravennus&rubrique=Ravennus%20et%20Rasiphus%20mm.%20Baiocis BHLms - Dossier hagiographique ] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4559 Rasyphus and Ravennus]
*fr icon [http://www.archeo125.org/visites/pageimageSE2.php L'ÉGLISE St-AUBIN de MACÉ] (includes image of the two saints)
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13681d.htm Diocèse de Séez] at the Catholic Encyclopedia