ON STS. CLAUDIANUS, PLAUTUS, AND HIRENAEUS,
MARTYRS AT NICOMEDIA, IN BITHYNIA.
CommentaryClaudianus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Plautus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Hirenaeus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
G. H.
The Martyrology of St. Jerome, printed at Paris and Lucca, and the Blumian MS., begin this day thus: On the Nones of April, at Nicomedia, the birthday into heaven of St. Claudianus. Memorial of St. Claudianus, The same is read in the MSS. Barberini, Utrecht, Corbie, the two Maximinus codices, and the very ancient catalogue prefixed to the works of St. Isidore, preserved at Rome among the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory. Some later ones follow: among which is Canisius, in the earlier edition of his German Martyrology, after Greven's Additions to Usuard. In the later edition of Canisius, Claudianus is again joined to Didymus and others who suffered in Egypt. Galesinius had led the way in this error, citing MS. Codices and Annals of the Saints, which he had in a very corrupt state.
[2] In the Martyrology of St. Jerome which we have in our possession, written down nearly a thousand years ago, companions are assigned in this manner: On the Nones of April, at Nicomedia, the birthday of Sts. Claudianus, Plautus, Irenis. Of these, in the Rhinow MS. in Switzerland only Plautus is added: but in the MS. of Reichenau, or Augia Dives near Constance, and of Sts. Plautus and Hirenaeus, he is written Plauvius, and seems to be the same who in the Tamlacht MS. among the Irish is called Paulus: in which also stands the name Hireni, for which above Hirenis is read. In the ancient MS. of the monastery of Monte Cassino the memorial of Hirenaeus is joined to Sts. Marcianus and Nicander, Martyrs of Egypt (whom we have dealt with among the Saints deferred to other days), and meanwhile the city of Nicomedia is placed before them as the arena of these Martyrs. From the word Hirenaeus it seems that Hirenis crept in by an easy error. If any prefer in Greek fashion to read Irenaeus, we allow it.
[3] Relics of St. Plaudius at Bologna. There is some veneration of St. Plaudius the Martyr on this day at Bologna, in the church of St. John on the Mount, on account of notable relics received from Rome under the pontificate of Innocent X, as Masinus testifies in Bononia perlustrata. But whether these Bolognese chose this day on the occasion of St. Plautus escapes us: that they are distinct, we do not in the least doubt.