ON SAINT AGATHEMERUS, MARTYR IN MYSIA.
CommentaryAgathemerus, Martyr, in Mysia (Saint)
BY G. H.
After the narrative of the birth into heaven of Saint Pancratius, who suffered at Tauromenium in Sicily, the sacred memory of this Martyr is subjoined in the Hieronymian transcripts, and in the Epternach manuscript in these words: "In Mysia, of Agathemerus." But the Corbie manuscript printed at Paris has this: The name variously written, "In Maesia, of Agathaemeritus de Antiquis." Florentinius from his Lucca codex made two Saints of him: "In Mirea, of Agatha; of Meritus de Antiquis." But since the copulative conjunction is lacking, it is perhaps better to retain a single name. The same Florentinius judges that "in Mirea" is a corrupted name of a city, Is it to be divided into two names? and thinks it should be read "Mysia," as also the Blume manuscript has, which agrees with the other two already mentioned transcripts on the rest. In the Reichenau and Rheinau MSS it is read thus: "In Mysia, of Agathemerus, Rufus." Of the last we shall treat presently among the Martyrs who suffered in Scythia. In the Casinense and Altempsian MSS these things are found: "In Misia, of Saint Agatha, of Meretus." We set these things from the most ancient Martyrologies before the reader, who, if he judges from the comparison of other calendars that two are to be placed here, may do so for all of us. We propose one only, since Meritus is not found in the indices of either Florentinius or Dachery, except for a Martyr of Alexandria on the XXX day of April. Why is "de antiquis" added? We prefer, however, to call him Agathemerus rather than Agathemeritus: because the former has the form of genuine composition, ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἡμέρας, that is, "from the Good Day," drawing a suitable reason and meaning; while the second, conflated from a Greek and a Latin word, ought not to be believed to have been in use in the first times of the Christian faith. For, in order that it might be signified that the Martyr was among the ancient ones and closest to the Apostolic age (as also had been Saint Pancratius, to whom he is joined), Florentinius thinks "de antiquis" is added. The arena of the martyrdom, Mysia, known near the Hellespont and the Propontis, is a region, a province adjoining Phrygia.