ON SAINT DONATUS,
MARTYR AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA
CommentaryDonatus, Martyr of Nicomedia (Saint)
G. H.
After the reported martyrdom of Saint Theodosia the Virgin, which on the preceding day we reported along with the Roman Martyrology, in various Martyrologies Saint Donatus, who suffered at Nicomedia, is substituted; to whom Florentinius joins as companion Amphianus, and Notker favors this, writing thus, "At Nicomedia, of Donatus and Amphianus." Is Saint Amphianus to be joined? In the same way they are joined in the Ado MS of the Liège monastery of Saint Laurence and in the MS Florarium; but the second is written Amphiarius. In the Epternach codex of Saint Jerome, several others are added besides: "At Nicomedia, of Donatus, Amphianus, Theumis, Benignus," where for "Theumis" we have said above that "Tomi" should be read. The other transcripts of the said Martyrology of Saint Jerome have thus: "At Nicomedia, of Donatus, and the passion
of Saint Amphianus": where, on account of the word "passion" interposed, Saint Amphianus seems to be separated from the company of Saint Donatus; which, without joining Saint Amphianus, is done by the ancient Vatican MSS of the church of Saint Peter and the Barberini in the supplement of the genuine Martyrology of Bede; likewise the Rheinau, Casinense, and Altempsian, with these words everywhere: "At Nicomedia, of Donatus." Grevenus does the same in his Auctarium of Usuard. Donatus is also mentioned, without the place of martyrdom, in the Augsburg MS and the Labbé MS.
We refer Amphianus to the preceding day, on which are reported both Saint Amphianus Martyr in Africa and Saint Apphianus, by others Amphianus, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine. Another Donatus, also Martyr of Nicomedia, is mentioned on April 6, but joined with various companions; and so he is rightly to be distinguished from this one, either reported alone, or transcribed into a class distinct from that one.