Gaianus

ON SAINT GAIANUS,

MARTYR IN THRACE OR DACIA.

Gaianus, Martyr in Thrace or Dacia (St.)

G. H.

The older apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which we have hitherto used, after the Alexandrian Martyrs reported which we have already indicated, has these things appended: St. Gaianus suffered in Thrace, "In Thrace, of Gaianus." The Corbeian apograph published at Paris: "In Thrace, the birthday of Gaianus." The same is found in the codex of St. Maximinus and the Barberini, from which and others we published the genuine Martyrology of Bede before volume II of March. Notker also has this: "In Thrace, the nativity of St. Gaianus." Grevenus in his Addition to Usuard follows. And this is he who in the Lucensian apograph is added in the last place to the Alexandrian Martyrs, the place of Thrace being omitted.

Some difficulty arises, whether this Gaianus was a Deacon, or Dacia, and perhaps crowned with martyrdom in Dacia. The Rhinovian Manuscript in Switzerland has this on this day: "At Alexandria, of Apollonius the Priest, and in Tacia Repensi, of Gaianus the Deacon." These things in the Richenovian Manuscript or of Reichenau-the-Rich near Constance are thus expressed: "At Alexandria, of Apollonius the Priest. And in Dacia Ripensis, of Gaianus the Deacon, of Hilarius." This Hilarius is among the companions of St. Apollonius. In the Notitia of the dignities of the Roman Empire, the Provinces of Dacia are established as five, and of these Mediterranean Dacia and Dacia Ripensis are reckoned in the first place. The Manuscript of Tamlacht in Ireland thus begins: "Of Apollonius, Repensis, Deacon, Hilarius," and toward the end "of Gagianus." Which seem to be accepted of Gaianus the Deacon in Dacia Ripensis. Here now it is asked whether two Gaianus Martyrs are to be set, of whom one was slain in Thrace, the other in Dacia: as is done in the first apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, in which toward the end these things are read: "In Dacia, of Gavianus the Deacon": and we said of another these things are had: unless they are different. "In Thrace, of Gaianus."

[3] Since however in this one alone we see one and the same name twice repeated, which we have from time to time noted to have occurred, having given this warning, we set down only one Gaianus, whether he suffered in Thrace or in Dacia. By some, a Gaianus Martyr is brought forth on the next day from the Manuscript Martyrology of Cassino, but whether he is the one who suffered in Thrace or Dacia, is unknown.

ON THE SEVENTEEN HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS.

XVII Martyrs in Africa (Sts.)

G. H.

In the third place, these Martyrs are proposed in the very ancient apograph of Echternach of the Hieronymian Martyrology with these words: "In Africa, of XVII Martyrs." In the Lucensian apograph and Corbeian is added: "whose names God, or the Lord, knows." Notker uses the same phrase, but has only sixteen Martyrs: who in the Manuscript of Prague are reckoned eighteen: in the Manuscripts of Utrecht of the collegiate church of St. Mary, and of Trier of St. Martin, as also in Grevenus in his Addition, are read seventeen. In the Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, held in great esteem by Holstenius, they are called XL Martyrs, whose names God knows. Nor can these be referred to Terentius, Pompeius, and the others, of whom we treated above: because the names of many of them are distinctly expressed.