ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS,
WHO SUFFERED UNDER GEISERIC AT EASTER.
AROUND THE YEAR 459
CommentaryAfrican Martyrs, under Geiseric, King of the Vandals (SS.)
G. H.
Victor, Bishop of Utica or Vitena in Africa, often deserves to be remembered with praise, because he has transmitted to posterity in writing, as a contemporary author, the glorious contests for the orthodox faith undertaken in the Vandal persecution under the Arian Kings Geiseric and Huneric. Hence to the present day, the fifth of April, the following things are to be referred, from the first book:
History of the Martyrdom At a certain time the solemnity of Easter was being celebrated, and while in a certain place called Regia, because of the honor of the Paschal day our people were opening to themselves a church that had been closed, the Arians found out. Immediately a certain Presbyter of theirs, Andiot by name, incited a gathered band of armed men to attack the crowd of the innocent. They enter with drawn swords, they seize arms, others also climb upon the roofs, and through the windows of the church scatter arrows. And then, while the people of God were listening and singing, a Lector standing at the pulpit was chanting the Alleluiatic melody. At that moment, pierced in the throat by an arrow, the book falling from his hands, he himself then fell dead. For many others also are proved to have been slain by arrows and javelins, in the midst of the railing of the altar. But those who were not then slain by swords, afterwards crushed by penalties, by royal command were almost all killed, especially those of more mature age.
natal day Thus Victor, on whose authority cited in the Notes, these things are commemorated in today's Roman Martyrology: In Africa, the passion of the holy Martyrs who, in the persecution of King Geiseric the Arian, on the day of Easter, were slain in the church: of whom a Lector, while chanting Alleluia in the pulpit, was transfixed in the throat by an arrow. Baronius adds many things about the use of chanting Alleluia, which can be read there. The same Baronius in the Annals transcribes the same from Victor under the year 456, number 20, and adds that the birthday of all these, crowned with the garlands of the Martyrs, year of the church. is exhibited annually in the Church on the Nones of April. But then he would have more fittingly referred it to the year 459, when, by lunar cycle 4, solar 20, with Dominical letter D, the solemnity of Easter was celebrated on the fifth day of the month of April. The same Martyrs are commemorated in the Natalia of the Holy Canonical Saints by Constantine Ghini, with the same eulogy taken from Victor: whom Nicolaus Brautius, Bishop of Sarsina, honors with these verses in his Poetic Martyrology.
The people renewing the Paschal feasts in the temple, Slain, flies to perpetuate in heaven. The Levite in the temple begun, Alle, by an arrow Is forced in heaven's choir to return, luia.