Biography
Ruricius II of Limoges
About Ruricius II of Limoges
Ruricius II was a sixth-century bishop of Limoges. Marino Neri identifies him as the grandson of Ruricius I, an earlier bishop of the same city. This relationship is better supported than the later account that made them uncle and nephew.
The later Life of Junian calls him Proculus and describes an affliction as demonic possession. Junian urges fasting, prayer, vigils and almsgiving, refusing payment and directing the money to the poor. The narrative presents recovery followed by episcopal office; it supplies no basis for a modern medical diagnosis.
The Bollandist commentary records his participation at Clermont in 535 and Orleans in 541. In 549 his archdeacon Bantaredus represented him at Orleans. The distinction matters: the subscription does not establish the bishop’s personal attendance that year.
Ruricius’s memory became closely connected with Junian’s shrine. Eric Sparhubert describes the oratory that the bishop built over Junian’s tomb and that later received his own burial. The site developed into a church served by canons.
In 1100, the consecration of the church included a solemn transfer of the relics of Ruricius II, Amand and Junian. This later ceremony shows how his veneration remained part of the community’s religious life long after the events of his episcopate.
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