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.
ON SAINT ELPIDEPHORUS, MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.
CommentaryElpidephorus, Martyr among the Greeks (Saint)
G. H.
The Greeks celebrate the holy Martyr Elpidephorus on this day in the Great Menaia and in Maximus of Cythera; the Chifletian manuscript Menaia hand down that he was killed by the sword. Other things concerning place and time are hidden. There is a certain Elpidephorus who, under Sapor King of the Persians, was crowned with martyrdom together with Saints Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Anempodistus, and very many others; but who will say this is the same man? He is honored in the Menaia with this distich, with an allusion to the name, derived from "bearing hope," which properly befits God, the giver of all good things.
Ὄντως ἀληθὴς Μάρτυς Ἐλπιδηφόρος, Θεὸν φέρων ἄψευστον ἐλπιδηφόρον.
This true and sincere Martyr, Elpidephorus, Bears God, an unfailing rewarder of hope.
Galesinius and Ferrarius also mention Saint Elpidephorus the Martyr, and join him with Saint Bythonius, of whom we treat in the following entry.