There are several saints named Rufus, of which the ''
Roman Martyrology'' records ten; historical mention is made of the following ones, which have liturgical feasts:
# On 19 April, a group of martyrs in
Melitene in Armenia, one of whom bears the name of Rufus. These martyrs are mentioned already in the ''
Martyrologium Hieronymianum''.
[Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Sts. Rufus." The Catholic Encyclopedia]
Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912
# On 1 August, Rufus, with several companions who, according to the most reliable manuscripts of the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" died at
Tomi, the place being afterwards by mistake changed to Philadelphia.
[
# On 27 August, two martyrs named Rufus at Capua -- one, whose name also appears as Rufinus in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (ed. cit., 111). The other is said to have suffered with a companion, Carpophorus (Carpone, Carponius; hence Rufus and Carpophorus), in Diocletian's persecution circa 304 AD (cf. "Bibliotheca hagiographica latina", II, 1070; Acta SS., VI August, 18–19).][
# On 25 September, several martyrs at ]Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
, among them one named Rufus.
# On 7 November, a Rufus of Metz, who is said to have been Bishop of Metz; his history, however, is legendary. His name was inserted at a later date in an old manuscript of the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum"(ed. cit., 140). In the ninth century his relics were transferred to Gau-Odernheim in Hesse
Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...
, Diocese of Mainz.
# On 12 November, Rufus, legend, without any historical proof, the supposed first Bishop of Avignon, who is perhaps identical with Rufus, the disciple of Paul (21 November).
# On 21 November, Rufus the disciple of the Apostles, who lived at Rome and to whom Saint Paul sent a greeting, as well as he did also to the mother of Rufus (Romans 16:13). St. Mark says in his Gospel (xv, 21) that Simon of Cyrene
Simon of Cyrene (, Standard Hebrew ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian Hebrew ''Šimʿôn''; , ''Simōn Kyrēnaios'') was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus of Nazareth as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three ...
was the father of Rufus, and as Mark wrote his Gospel for the Roman Christians, this Rufus is probably the same as the one to whom Paul sent a salutation.
# On 28 November, a Roman martyr Rufus, probably identical with the Rufinianus who was buried in the Catacomb of Generosa on the Via Portuensis, and who is introduced in the legendary Acts of the martyrdom of St. Chrysogonus (cf. Paul Allard, "Histoire des persécutions", IV, 371 sq.).
# On 18 December, the holy martyrs Rufus and Zosimus, who were taken to Rome with St. Ignatius of Antioch and were put to death there for their unwavering confession of Christianity during the persecution of Trajan
Trajan ( ; born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, 18 September 53) was a Roman emperor from AD 98 to 117, remembered as the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier ...
. St. Polycarp speaks of them in his letter to the Philippians (c. ix).
Besides these, there is:
* Rufinianus, third bishop of Bayeux in the 5th century.
* Máel Ruba, an Irish monk in ScotlandToke, Leslie. "St. Maelrubha." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910
References
External links
Saint of the Day, August 27: ''Rufus and Carpophorus (Carpone)''
at ''SaintPatrickDC.org''
at the '' Catholic Encyclopedia''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rufus
Ante-Nicene Christian martyrs