Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. “ In Egypt, S. Varus, soldier, who suffered under Maximinus,” &c.; but according to the Acts he suffered under Galerius Maximianus. The Greek Menaea and Menology; that of the emperor Basil, however, on Oct. 25. Authority: — The Greek Acts, ancient and apparently trustworthy.] In the persecution of Galerius Maximian, son-in-law to Diocletian, seven hermits in the desert were arrested by order of the governor of Upper Egypt One died before he was removed, but the other six were thrown into prison, and their feet set in the stocks. A believing officer named Varus visited them in prison, and finding that they had been eight days without food, provided them with bread. When they were brought before the governor, he asked where the seventh was whose arrest he had ordered. Then Varus, whose enthusiasm had been roused by the sight of the constancy of the six old men, bounded over the barriers which kept off the people, and presented himself before the judge.

“ Who are you ?** asked the magistrate. “lama soldier of the cohort of Tyana,” answered Varus. The governor, exceedingly exasperated, ordered him to be stretched in the stocks, and then tied up and beaten. Whilst the lashes were ripping the skin and flesh off his back, and •SS. Varus and Others.

breast, and sides, Varus cried to the hermits, “ Bless me, my fathers ! and pray for me that I may have strength to stand and overcome.”

The governor then ordered his sides to be tom with iron hooks and his bowels to be drawn out. The old men wept; the magistrate, turning to them, said, “See ! you lament, and yet you fancy he is going to immortal glory.” “ We lament that he suffers pain,” answered the hermits, “ but we doubt not that he will win eternal life.” The executioners went on racking, beating, and tearing off his flesh, till one exclaimed, “ Sir ! he is dead.” Then the governor said, “ Cast his body to the dogs.” Next day the six hermits were brought again before him, and were executed with the sword.

Now there was at the time a Christian woman of Syria, named Cleopatra, and she secured the body of Varus by night and buried it under her bed. And after a few days she removed it, concealed in a bale of wool, and went to her own place, Syra, at the foot of Mount Tabor, and there she laid the body in the tomb of her ancestors, with lights and incense. Now the fame of the martyr was spread throughout the neighbourhood by the servants of Cleopatra, who had assisted in bringing the body out of Egypt, and many people brought their sick to the tomb in hopes of a cure. So passed several years.

After a while Cleopatra's son, aged seventeen, was about to go to the imperial court and enter the army. Cleopatra, desirous of his advancement, resolved to show the highest honour of S. Varus, and obtain him as a patron for her son. She therefore sold a portion of her possessions, and built a splendid church. Now when the church was completed, she called together all the bishops and monks of the neighbourhood, and drew the body from her father's tomb and laid it on a bier, wrapped in linen and spices, and she and her son bore the relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] on their shoulders to the new church and laid them under the altar. Then mass was said with psalmody and many lights; and when the service was over, Cleopatra bowed her face over the dead saint's relics, and prayed, saying: “ I pray thee by thy crown and patience, entreat the Lord that He may show my son the same honour that I have laboured to show to thee. I pray thee obtain for my son health and advancement with the emperor. I pray thee remember that I have honoured thee above my husband and my servants and my wealth."

Then going forth from the church, she made a great banquet for all who had attended the dedication of her church and the translation [the solemn moving of a saint’s relics to a new shrine] of the relics, and she and her son served the guests with their own hands. And she and he had eaten nothing. “ It will suffice us," said Cleopatra, “ to eat the scraps when all are satisfied."

Now when evening came, the boy felt feverish and ilL And she said to him, as he lay on a couch, “ Rise, my son; all are gone, and now we have time for eating.” But he scarce answered her, and could not raise his heavy head. Then she went to him and kissed him on the eyes, and said: “ My boy, I did all this for your health; now I pray you get up and eat, for you have fasted all day and have worked very hard." But he was not able. Then his mother flung her arms round him and wailed, “As God lives, I will not eat a mouthful till I see what will become of my only son." And she took him on her lap and held him to her heart till midnight, and he died on her bosom. Then she rose and carried him to the church and laid him before the altar, and clung to it with both her hands, and prayed: “ O what reward is this that is given me ! O what hard measure is meted out to me who have done all I could 1 Give me my son back, whom I have nourished with care and {rouble. Give me my orphan boy back, that he may be my comfort. SS. Varus and Others.

Give him back to me, or I will beat out my brains on these hard stones. Pray God to restore to me my only child; give him back to me, or take me out of this misery. I cannot bear my pain.”

And all the people who had assembled wept with her, for the boy was very beautiful and amiable. And the day dawned and glided by, the agonized woman still clinging in her desperation to the altar, before which lay her child, and the priests stood apart: they feared to attempt to console her, for her despair was past human consolation. Now about the middle of the next night she laid her head on the breast of her dead son, exhausted with weeping and want of food, and fell asleep. Then she saw S. Varus standing clothed in light, and holding her son by the hand. And she started forward in her dream and caught Varus by the foot with one hand, and her boy by the foot with the other hand, and looked up and tried to speak, but her voice failed her. Then said Varus, “ Have I forgotten all the love thou hast shown me ? Did I forget to pray to God that He would give health and promotion to thy son ? And lo ! He has answered my prayer. He has given him health in eternal life, and promoted him to follow in the armies of the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth.”

“ I am content,” sobbed the mother. “ But I pray thee, now, take me away also, that I may be with my boy and you.” But he answered, “Not so; lay thy son at my side, and tarry till the time is come, and then we will fetch thee.” So she woke, and told her dream.

Then she hasted to bury her boy beside Varus. And the women said, “ Put on him his military suit of clothes thou hast prepared for him, or the sight will give thee renewed pain.” But she would not And after seven years Cleopatra died, and rejoined her son in Paradise.