ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF ANTIOCH.
TIMOTHY, DIOGENES, MACARIA OR MADIARIA AND MAXIMA. LIKEWISE SAINT ELEUSUS, PRIEST.
CommentaryTimothy, Martyr at Antioch (Saint)
Diogenes, Martyr at Antioch (Saint)
Macaria or Madiaria, Martyr at Antioch (Saint)
Maxima, Martyr at Antioch (Saint)
Eleusus, Priest, Martyr at Antioch (Saint)
G. H.
After the African Martyrs already related, of whom we have already treated, there were subjoined on April 6, in the ancient transcripts of the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, Timothy and Diogenes as having suffered in Macedonia: concerning whom with the Martyrologies of Usuard, Notker, Bellinus and others, and especially the Roman, we treated on that day. But those who are reported in the same and other ancient Martyrologies as having suffered with companions at Antioch in Syria on April 7, Martyrs reported in ancient MSS. we here review as distinct from the Macedonian Martyrs. And firstly the Martyrology of Queen Christina of Sweden, cited by Holstenius and noted in the Adversaria on the Roman Martyrology, has the following: "In Antioch of Syria, the birthday of Saint Timothy with three others": whom the Manuscripts of Saint Martin of Trier, and of Saint Mary of Utrecht hand down as six. The Manuscripts of Tournai and of Laet: "In Antioch of Syria Timothy, Diogenes." The Manuscripts of Saint Peter in the Vatican, and another of Saint Cyriacus, add the name of Macaria. Which in the Aachen Manuscript are thus expressed: "Timothy, Avigenes" — correct to "Diogenes" — "Eleusus, Macaria." Wandelbert in his poem celebrates two of these in this verse:
Diogenes by the seventh, and Eleusus are borne along.
In the very ancient Manuscript Fasti of Saint Maximinus is celebrated Eleusus, Priest at Antioch in Syria. In the Augsburg Manuscript of Saint Udalric and the Paris Manuscript of Labbe, they are indicated in this order: "In Antioch of Syria Timothy, Diogenes, Eleusus, Macaria, Maxima." In the Tamlacht Manuscript are indicated Timothy, Eleusus, and with others inserted Diogenes, Macaria and Maxima. In the Cologne Manuscript of Saint Mary ad Gradus, with the rest reported at the end, it is said, "and of Eleusus the Priest": who, however, in the transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology is separated, and thus read in first place: "At Antioch of Syria of Timothy, Diogenes, Macaria, Maxima. And elsewhere of Eleusus the Priest." Is Eleusius to be separated? Which also in some other Manuscript Martyrologies are read. In the Lucca codex, Macarius and Maximus are written. Concerning the same, as we think, Martyrs it is treated on March 26, The same reported on March 26 as we said there among the Passed Over and Deferred to other days. And firstly in the very ancient and principal Martyrology of Saint Jerome it is read thus: "At Antioch of Timothy, Diogenes, Macaria and Maxima." In the Lucca and Corbie, and Tamlacht, in place of Macaria, is found Madiaria; as in the Blumian of Maximus, in place of Maxima: but this is lacking in the Altemps codex. Timothy and Diogenes are mentioned also in the Kalendars of the ancient Ambrosian Missal and Breviary, likewise in the Manuscripts of Barberini, Prague, and Reichenau, and Timothy alone in the Augsburg and Labbe Manuscripts. But no mention is made on that day of Eleusus, whom as a Saint, lest we multiply titles, we retain at the end. In Greven, after Eleusus and Macaria, Philibertus is joined, concerning whom we read nothing elsewhere, unless it be Saint Philibertus Abbot to be commemorated on August 20: the name is certainly Frankish, and is not well joined to ancient martyrs.
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.