Richarius

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Saint Richarius or Saint Riquier (d. 643) is a Christian saint of France who was a founder of a monastery.

Richarius was born near Centula and was converted to Christianity by Fricor and Cadoc, two Irish missionaries. After his conversion, he became an evangelist himself, preaching the Gospel and curing the sick. He travelled by donkey rather than horse and read the psalter as he rode. Richarius founded a monastery in Centula.

One day, Dagobert, the king, came to visit the monastery, and Richarius offered the king advice. He was frank and clear in his speech to the king, speaking without fear or flattery, and the king thereafter became a benefactor of the monastery. Others also gave generously to Richarius's monastery, and the saint was able to use the money to help lepers and the poor and to ransom prisoners held by England.

When he was in advanced age, Richarius made a shelter in the forest of Crécy, fifteen miles from his monastery. He lived there alone with his disciple Sigobart. He said goodbye to his disciple and died. His relics were first in a coffin made of an oak trunk and then translated to the abbey of Centula. 150 years later, Charlemagne built a golden shrine to enclose the relics and had the St. Riquier Gospels made for the shrine. The feast day of Richarius in the Roman Catholic Church is April 26.