Saint Varus of Egypt

St. Varus was a soldier, who lived in Egypt, during the reign of Emperor Maximian. He was a Christian and out of fear he hid his faith for a time, but later, he revealed it. At that time Emperor Maximian issued a decree in every province commanding that those Christians who would not sacrifice to the gods be put to death. St. Varus visited by night the Christians who were held in prison for their confession, bribing the guards with gold to permit him to enter the cells in which they held. He passed the entire night at prayer with the martyrs and heard their teaching gladly. When the morning was come, the servants of Prince of Egypt saw Varus seated with the prisoners. They took the martyrs from the prison and were led bound before the Prince and sought to compel them to sacrifice to the idols. When they would not consent, they were stripped and beaten mercilessly. Varus was suspended from a tree and put to torture; he endured for 5 hours and then in suffering surrended his soul to God. His feast day is on October 19. He is the patron saint of those who have died outside the Orthodox Christian faith and of young children who are ill or have died either by illness or during birth or even in the womb.