Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

CANCIANUS, GAIANUS, JOVINIANUS, MARCELLUS, AND VITALIS.

Cancianus, Martyr (Saint)

Gaianus, Martyr (Saint)

Iovianus, Martyr (Saint)

Marcellus, Martyr (Saint)

Vitalis, Martyr (Saint)

G. H.

We have said on days recently elapsed that among the monuments found by us in the Archmonastery of Monte Cassino was a certain most ancient Martyrology, written in the old Lombard character, from which we gave some holy Martyrs; which we do again on this day, because in it the following is noted: "III Ides of April. Birthday of the holy Martyrs Cancianus, Gaianus, Jovinianus, Marcellus, and Vitalis." Famous is the memory of Saints Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla, the brothers, who suffered at Aquileia under Diocletian, and are noted on May 31, June 15, and 17. Another Cantianus is also commemorated on the said June 15, having suffered in Lucania, but none of these companions is joined. We gave Gaianus the Martyr on the day just passed, April 10, whom some hand down as having suffered in Thrace, others in Dacia, and we doubted whether they should be placed as different. Perhaps one is to be transferred here. Jovinianus and Marcellus are found among the Sicilian Martyrs in the primary apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology on October 11. Another among the Martyrs in Asia, Jovennianus or Jovenianus, is held on March 12. But there are several Martyrs named Marcellus or Vitalis; but who is venerated on this day or joined with others together, we have not yet found. Therefore we have indicated these Martyrs on account of the antiquity of the said Martyrology, offering to the benevolent Reader further matter for investigation.

ON SAINTS SIAGRIUS AND PATRICIUS

At Lyon in Gaul.

Siagrius, at Lyon in Gaul (Saint)

Patricius, at Lyon in Gaul (Saint)

G. H.

Lyon, the most ancient emporium of the Gauls, as it always excelled in the multitude of its people, in commerce, and in riches, so that it excelled in holy religion and ancient piety in Christ even under the pagan Emperors in the first times of the Christian era, the holy Martyrs sufficiently testify, who there at various times confessed their faith by the shedding of blood. Whether these are to be reckoned among the ancient Martyrs of Lyon But because their leaders and standard-bearers are often indicated alone by their names, very many lie hidden under others comprised in a general number. Thus with Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, nineteen thousand are handed down whose names are unknown, crowned with martyrdom. Yet why should not the names of some Martyrs, hidden here and there in ancient monuments, now and then be brought to light? Of these perhaps ought to be reckoned those who in the most ancient apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which we have often used, written about a thousand years ago, are contained in these words: "At Lyon of Gaul, of Siagrius and Patricius." From these words we might seem, as we have done throughout this whole work, to be able to add the name of Martyrs; but we have omitted it in the title, or rather are they to be held Confessors? because in other, but more recent, apographs the name "deposition" is added, as also in the Tournai and Liège MSS, though in the latter, by error of copyists, it is Fiagrii for Siagrii. In the Utrecht MS of Saint Mary, and the Trier MS of Saint Martin, this is read: "At Lyon, of Siagrius the Confessor," no mention being made of Patricius. The memory of Siagrius the Confessor is also celebrated without place indicated in the Augsburg MS of Saint Ulrich and the Paris MS of Labbé. Did he therefore, after chains, prisons, and other tortures, being dismissed, fall asleep in peace? In Bellinus's Parisian edition of 1521, Siagrius seems to be other than Sicarius, Bishop of Lyon Siagrius is called Bishop. But because no Siagrius is found among the Bishops of Lyon, Molanus changed the name and wrote "At Lyon of Sicarius the Bishop." Soon followed Galesini, Canisius, Ghini, Ferrari, and especially Saussaie in his Gallican Martyrology, who in his Index makes the arrangement of it; but, as we have shown elsewhere, from conjecture, because Saint Sicarius has his natal day on March 25, on which day we treated of Saint Sicarius and this Siagrius, and proposed these things to men among the Lyonnais who love the antiquities of their own Church, that if they could indicate more certain monuments, we might publish them on this 11 April; which we again requested by letters from a man diligent in Gallican antiquity, Jean de Bussières, famous for his published books; who answered on January 29, 1670, that he had been able to learn nothing about this controversy from anyone. We therefore leave Siagrius, as different from Sicarius the Bishop, together with Saint Patricius; and we judge that both were at Lyon Martyrs, or at least Confessors, exchanging this mortal life for the eternal and immortal one.