The

Roman Martyrology The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved ...

records eleven saints named Rufinus: * On 28 February, a Roman martyr, Rufinus, with several companions in martyrdom; nothing is known concerning them. * On 7 April, an

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

n martyr, Rufinus with two companions; their names are mentioned under 6 April in a list of martyrs in the "

Martyrologium Hieronymianum The ''Martyrologium Hieronymianum'' (meaning "martyrology of Jerome") or ''Martyrologium sancti Hieronymi'' (meaning "martyrology of Saint Jerome") is an ancient martyrology or list of Christian martyrs in calendar order, one of the most used a ...

" (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 40). * On 14 June, the two martyrs, Valerius and Rufinus, who suffered at

Soissons Soissons () is a commune in the northern French department of Aisne, in the region of Hauts-de-France. Located on the river Aisne, about northeast of Paris, it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital o ...

, during the Diocletian persecution; their names are given under this date in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 78; cf. 66 under 26 May; also Acta SS., June, II, 796 sqq.). * On 21 June, Rufinus who suffered martyrdom with Martia at Syracuse; nothing is known concerning him. * On 30 July,

Rufinus of Assisi According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (Italian ''Rufino''), was the first bishop of this city and a martyr. Sources concerning the life of Saint Rufino are a sermon of eleventh century Peter Damian, (''Miracula Sancti Rufini Martyris''), and a ...

, who was reportedly the

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

of this city and a martyr. He is probably identical with the "episcopus Marsorum" noted under 11 August. The Acts of the martyrdom of this Rufinus are purely legendary f. "Bibliotheca hagiographica latina", II, 1068; Elisei, "Studio sulla chiesa cattedrale di S. Rufino" (Assisi, 1893); D. de Vincentiis, "Notizie di S. Rufino" (Avezzano, 1885) * On 19 August, Rufinus,

confessor Confessor is a title used within Christianity in several ways. Confessor of the Faith Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith but not to the point of death.Mantua Mantua ( ; it, Mantova ; Lombard and la, Mantua) is a city and '' comune'' in Lombardy, Italy, and capital of the province of the same name. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the Italian Capital of Culture. In 2017, it was named as the Eur ...

. * On 26 August, a confessor, Rufinus, venerated at

Capua Capua ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, southern Italy, situated north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. History Ancient era The name of Capua comes from the Etrus ...

(cf. Acta SS., August, V, 819–820); his name is given in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" under 26 and 27 August. * On 4 September, a martyr, Rufinus, with his companions (Silvanus and Vitalicus) in martyrdom who suffered at Ancyra in Galatia; he is also mentioned in company with several others in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 113) under 31 August, and again under 4 September (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 116). * On 9 September, Rufinus and Rufinianus, with no further particulars. * On 16 November, Rufinus, a martyr in Africa with several companions in martyrdom; nothing is known concerning this saint. * Under 22 June the martyr Rufinus of

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandri ...

is mentioned in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" names. (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 81).

Rufinus of Mercia

The parish church of Burston, Staffordshire in England is dedicated to St Rufin, also known as Rufinus, second son of Wolferus, pagan king of

Mercia la, Merciorum regnum , conventional_long_name=Kingdom of Mercia , common_name=Mercia , status=Kingdom , status_text=Independent kingdom (527–879) Client state of Wessex () , life_span=527–918 , era= Heptarchy , event_start= , date_start= , ...

in the seventh century. Wolferus was a persecutor of Christians, and on discovering that his sons Wolfadus and Rufinus had been converted to Christianity by St Chad, pursued them. He soon captured Wolfadus at

Stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

and martyred him there, but Rufinus had escaped further and was hidden in some woods. When he was eventually captured and killed, the place of his martyrdom became the site of an early chapel in the village of Burston. Wolferus was subsequently filled with remorse and converted to Christianity himself, banning pagan worship and raising St Chad to become

Bishop of Lichfield The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers 4,516 km2 (1,744 sq. mi.) of the counties of Powys, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Wes ...

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rufinus Ante-Nicene Christian martyrs