African Martyrs Fortunatus

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS FORTUNATUS, DONATUS, AND 240 OTHERS.

Fortunatus, Martyr, in Africa (Saint)

Donatus, Martyr, in Africa (Saint)

Another 211 Martyrs, in Africa (Saints)

G. H.

That all martyrologies have drawn their origin from one most ancient source, this same manner of speaking shows: "In Africa, of Saints Fortunatus, Donatus, and 240 others." Thus three apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Notker, Greven, the Liège manuscript of Saint Lambert, along with the Florarium manuscript and others. In the Barberini MS, the Utrecht MS of Saint Mary, and likewise the Cologne MS of Saint Mary ad Gradus, Donatus is omitted. On the contrary, Fortunatus is lacking in the Trier MS of Saint Martin, the Cassinese, and the Vatican MS of Saint Peter, and in the latter 241 others are added. They are commemorated without companions in the Reichenau MS; without place, but with companions, they are noted in the Augsburg MS and another Paris MS. Finally, in a single codex they are named Fortunata and Donata. In the Tamlacht MS, memory is made of Fortunata and Domitio, to whom many thousands are added, and then Fortunatus is subjoined. But with Filo, of whom we shall shortly treat, are joined another 244 who belong here.

ON SAINTS EUSTORGIUS THE PRESBYTER, NESTOR, FILO, CEREMONIUS,

Martyrs at Nicomedia.

Eustorgius the Presbyter, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)

Nestor, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)

Filonus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)

Ceremonius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)

G. H.

At Nicomedia, Saint Eustorgius the Presbyter, all editions of Usuard both printed and manuscript enroll, as well as the tables of the modern Roman Martyrology, Saint Eustorgius the Presbyter and with these Bellinus, Maurolyco, Felici, Greven, Molanus, Canisius, and Galesini. The title of Martyr is added by the Florarium MS and the Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year 1490. But with the place omitted, Saint Eustorgius is referred to in the Aachen MS. In the Reichenau, Augsburg, and Paris MSS his companion Nestor or Nestorius is added. In three apographs of the ancient Martyrology of Saint Jerome, four Martyrs are named, suffering at Nicomedia: Eustorgius the Presbyter (who is also written Eastorgius, Eostorgius, and Eustoius), three companions Nestor, Filonus (or Filon or Filontius), and Ceremonius (or Ceremonia). In the Blumianus apograph of the same Saint Jerome, Nestor is lacking, and the other three are referenced. Masini, in his Bologna Described, celebrates Saint Eustorgius on this day, because certain relics under this name are preserved in the church of Saint Dominic: but who by divination will affirm those to be of this holy Martyr of Nicomedia? Nor is there greater certainty in defining the time of the martyrdom. In the notes to the Roman Martyrology is read in the margin: "around the year 410." We should rather think that they suffered in the persecution of Diocletian, when they suffered of which we shall treat on the following day. In the Tamlacht MS the memory is celebrated of Saints Eustorgius, Nestor, Filonus, and 244 others, but these last belong to the preceding company.