ON THE HOLY SIRMIAN MARTYRS
RUFINA, MODERATA, ROMANA, SECUNDUS, AND SEVEN OTHERS, LIKEWISE FLORENTINUS, GEMINIANUS, SATURUS,
CommentaryRufina, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Moderata, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Romana, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Secundus, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Seven others, Martyrs, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saints). Florentinus, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Geminianus, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Saturus, Martyr, at Sirmium in Pannonia (Saint)
Other Martyrs, at Sirmium in Pannonia or perhaps elsewhere
G. H.
[1] This is another troop of Martyrs indicated in the ancient Martyrologies of Saint Jerome: and in the Blumian transcript it is reported thus: "And in Sirmia: Rofina, Moderata, Romana, Secundus with seven others, Names of the Martyrs: Florentinus, Geminianus." The same are found in Florentini from the Lucca codices, except that in them "Secunda," not "Secundus," is read. But in Acheri's Parisian edition it is printed "Secundus, and Rufina," and after Geminianus the name of Saturus is added. There is some confusion in the Epternach manuscript with the preceding class, where these are recorded: "Sirmus or Sirmius, Donatus, Xistus, Victurus, Gagus," who pertain to the Nicomedian Martyrs already reported. "Rosina, Moderata. Likewise Romana, Secundus and seven others, Florentinus, Geminanus." With two of these omitted, the Barberini manuscript, the Supplement of the genuine Bede, and the Maximinian manuscript set forth the same thus: "At Sirmia, Rufina, Moderata, Romana, Secundus with seven others." The same are in the Prague manuscript, but with the place omitted; and at Greven in the Supplement to Usuard, it is indicated "At Sirmium": but by a great error in the Cologne manuscript of Saint Mary ad Gradus it is called "At Smyrna," and Romana is omitted. The rest are everywhere found with great agreement. In the Tamlacht manuscript, with the place omitted, mention is made of Moderata, Rufina,
Successia and seven others, Florentius, Geminius, and then Florentinus. In the Brussels manuscript of Saint Gudula, Saint Florentius Martyr is celebrated.
[2] There is a difficulty whether the already-mentioned Florentinus and Geminianus, and also Saturus who is added in the Corbie codex printed at Paris, are to be joined to the Sirmian Martyrs, Whether Florentinus and Geminianus are rightly joined: since the troop of Sirmian Martyrs seems to be concluded with "seven others," and perhaps through the carelessness of the copyists a place or word is lacking elsewhere. Yet these two, or three, could have suffered martyrdom separately from the others in the same place, just as they are placed separately. Having given this warning beforehand, we set them forth with the others who suffered at Sirmium. Sirmium was the metropolis of Pannonia, situated on the river Sava, about which we have often treated, especially on the 25th of March in the Life of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop there and Martyr, and on the 26th of March, on which day we reported Saints Montanus, Maxima and forty others as having suffered there. Others are reported to have suffered there on January 2, 6, and 8.