Rix (Avtius)

Holy Martyr Rix (Avtius) was the leader of a Germanic tribe, who believed in Christ through the Holy Martyr Lucia and was put to the sword in Rome, together with her.

St Lucia, born in Campania, in Italy, devoted herself to God from youth and lived strictly and purely. While still very young she was captured by the leader of a Germanic tribe, Rix, and taken to a foreign land. At first Rix forced her to perform pagan rites, but seeing the strength of her faith and her readiness for torments for the Name of Christ, he came to respect her deeply and gave her and her maidservants a separate little house, where they lived in solitude and unceasing prayer. When he went on campaigns, Rix reverently asked Lucia's prayers and returned victorious.

After twenty years, learning that the emperor Diocletian had begun a persecution of the Christians, Lucia asked Rix to let her return to Italy, to glorify the Lord with her countrymen. Rix, who under her influence had by now accepted Christianity, also burned with a desire for martyrdom. He left his palace and family and set out with Lucia for Rome. By the sentence of the prefect Aelius, they were put to the sword. After them the Holy Martyrs Antony, Lucian, Isidore, Dion, Diodorus, Cutonius, Aron, Capicus and Satur were beheaded, in the year 301.

St Rix is commemorated on 19 July, in the new style.