Victor and Stephen

ON STS. VICTOR AND STEPHEN,

Martyrs in Egypt.

Victor, Martyr in Egypt (Saint)

Stephen, Martyr in Egypt (Saint)

G. H.

These two Athletes close the ranks of Martyrs in all the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and with them agree many Martyrologies both printed and manuscript, together with Usuard, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Canisius, Galesinius, and others. The words are nearly everywhere the same: "In Egypt of Saints Victor and Stephen." In some the word "passion" is interposed; in others "Martyrs" is added. We have given other Victors among the Armenian and Heraclean Martyrs. In the Cassinensis manuscript, Victor and Stephen are referred to with Alexander, but assigned to the preceding class. In the Reichenau and Labbé manuscripts only Stephen is mentioned. Baronius adds in the Notes: "Although these agree in name, they are nevertheless considered different from Victor and Corona, of whom the same Usuard treats on the day before the Ides of May; for these are read as suffering in Egypt, those in Syria." We have said above that Saints Dionysius and Stephen Martyrs are referred to in the Calendars of the ancient Milanese Missal and Breviary; and in the Calendar of the Missal printed at Milan in 1560, the commemoration of Saint Stephen and his companions, Martyrs, is celebrated. But these companions with Saint Dionysius belong to the preceding class.

ON ST. THESIDIUS, MARTYR,

of Tuscania in Etruria.

Thesidius, Martyr, of Tuscania in Etruria (Saint)

G. H.

Saint Thesidius the Martyr is mentioned, from the records of the Tuscanian Church, by Ferrarius in his General Catalogue, and again in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy. He is venerated there on these Kalends of April, and his body is reverently preserved. Thus it stands from a marble inscription. But in what place or time this holy Martyr was crowned, and what his country was, is as yet unknown. Tuscania, commonly called by the Italians Toscanella, is a very ancient city of Etruria, on the river Marta, not far from the lake of Bolsena: of which we have treated on February 8, on the occasion of Saint Communis Martyr, whose body is also preserved there. Again concerning the same Saint Thesidius Martyr the same Ferrarius treats in his General Catalogue, citing the same records, and adds that his Acts are lacking. Nicholas Brautius, Bishop of Sarsina, honors him with these verses:

Tuscania holds the sacred bones of Thesidius the Martyr, And, mindful, renews his feasts at the appointed time.