ON SAINT POMPEIUS,
MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.
CommentaryPompeius, Martyr among the Greeks (St.)
G. H.
The Greeks in the MS. Synaxary of the Parisian College of Clermont of the Society of Jesus, and in the Turin MS. of the Duke of Savoy, and in others, celebrate on this day four Martyrs in these words: Likewise the contest of the holy Martyrs Terentius, Pompeius, Maximus, Zeno. But these in the Menaea and in Maximus of Cythera are distinguished under three headings, milk flows from his neck: and in the first place is held the holy Martyr Pompeius, with this distich.
As a living sheep of the Lord, O Pompeius, With your neck cut by the sword, you pour forth milk.
In the second place follows St. Zeno, of whom we treat in the next title. Finally in the last place Sts. Maximus and Terentius are celebrated together, as sharers in the same kind of martyrdom and glory.
Whether the same is venerated on April 10, b We greatly doubt whether these four are not the African Martyrs, recorded with others among the Greeks on April 10, where the Acts of their martyrdom are fully explained: but because all of those are said to have been beheaded or slain by the sword, it seems that St. Zeno here referred to is different, as will appear below: and consequently St. Pompeius who is placed before him, since nothing of the milk flowing from his neck is held in the Acts of April 10. If, however, others judge him the same, and wish him to be venerated on both days, we do not wish to oppose.