ON SAINTS COPRICA, VICTOR, DONATUS,
MARTYRS IN UPPER LIBYA.
CommentaryCoprica, Martyr in Upper Libya (Saint)
Victor, Martyr in Upper Libya (Saint)
Donatus, Martyr in Upper Libya (Saint)
G. H.
These Martyrs, said to have suffered in Upper Libya on this day, are handed down in four transcripts of the Martyrology of Jerome; likewise in the Manuscripts of the Roman Cardinal Barberini, of Saint Lawrence of Liège, of Saint Maximinus of Trier, and the Manuscript Florarium Sanctorum: and they are Coprica and Victor. For the former, in the Manuscript of Saint Jerome at Echternach, is read Caprica; in the Augsburg Manuscript of Saint Udalric, Aprica; in the Paris Manuscript of Labbe, Capua. In the Corbie Manuscript of Saint Jerome, printed at Paris, a third companion Donatus is added. Concerning these and others mention seems to be made in the said transcripts of the Martyrology of Jerome, likewise in Notker and others on the preceding day in these words: "At Pentapolis of Upper Libya, the birthday of Saints Theodore the Bishop, Irenaeus the Deacon, Serapion and Ammonius the Lectors (whom as the same we reported on March 26), Summista, Apricus, Victor."
For "Summista," in three transcripts of the aforesaid Hieronymian two names are read in the Echternach codex: "Luni Mistae." This, until a more certain reading occurs, being placed among the Passed Over, we judge that Coprica (or according to others Caprica or Aprica) and Victor, reported on this day, are there called Apricus, Apricius, Paricius (for these are written with variation), and Victor. That the four reported on March 26 suffered in the persecution of Diocletian, we said there: which seems also to be said of these. In the Neapolitan Manuscript of Antonio Caracciolo are reported the birthday of Saint Copricus, and the birthday of Saint Irene; this name seems to have been taken for Saint Irenaeus the Deacon.