Victricius of Rouen

Saint Victricius of Rouen (Victrice) was a former soldier, bishop of Rouen and preacher in northern Gaul. He was born around 330 in Gaul, the son of a Roman legionnaire, and became a soldier too, an officer posted to various places in Gaul. When he became a Christian he refused to remain in the army, finding military service incompatible with the Faith. He was flogged and sentenced to death, but the sentence was not carried out. He preached among the tribes of Flanders, Hainault and Brabant.

He became bishop of Rouen around 386 or 393 (the calendars say 380) and was one of the leading pastors in Gaul. He was accused of heresy but was defended by Pope Innocent I, from whom he received the important decretal Liber Regularum. In 396 relics arrived at Rouen from Italy, sent by Ambrose of Milan and others; Victricius wrote a sermon, On the Praise of the Saints (De Laude Sanctorum), to welcome them. He mentions there that he had been away from Rouen, having been asked to travel to Britain to help resolve some doctrinal issues, and names the saints whose relics were already present in Rouen: John the Baptist, Andrew, Thomas, Gervasius and Protasius, Agricola and Euphemia. He reposed around 407. He is commemorated on 7 August as a saint of the undivided Church, by the New Calendar.