ON SAINTS EUPHEMIA, EUCAPIA, AND SECUTOR,
MARTYRS AT CHALCEDON IN BITHYNIA.
CommentaryEuphemia, Martyr at Chalcedon in Bithynia (Saint) Eucapia, Martyr at Chalcedon in Bithynia (Saint) Secutor, Martyr at Chalcedon in Bithynia (Saint)
G. H.
Euphemia, who is here placed at the head of the remaining Martyrs, has drawn our mind and thoughts into different opinions. For Saint Euphemia, celebrated on September 16 in the Greek as well as Latin calendars, is most famous, who at Chalcedon, after various tortures endured in the theater, rendered her spirit to God. We have therefore been in doubt whether the Euphemia who is recorded on other days as Martyr at Chalcedon Various Martyrs Euphemia should be considered one and the same. Thus in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, on August 17 is celebrated "At Chalcedon, Saint Euphemia with Saint Macarius," and on September 17 "At Chalcedon, Saint Euphemia with Saint Saleosus," as on this April 13 she is placed in the first place: "At Chalcedon, the birth of Saints Euphemia, Eucapia, and Secutor." Similarly, in the already mentioned Martyrology of Saint Jerome, Euphemia is celebrated with 24 companions—whose names are expressed—suffering at Constantinople on July 3; another at Nuceria on September 19, with four companions; another also at Milan on November 27, crowned with four other athletes: but with no place indicated she is mentioned on April 12 and September 3, always with different companions, and this in the indicated Martyrology of Saint Jerome: and Saint Euphemia Virgin and Martyr is celebrated on April 15 in the illustrious Vatican Martyrology of the Church of Saint Peter. In a manuscript Breviary for the parts of the Rhine, which we have, as well as in that printed at Worms in the year 1576 and that at Ratzeburg in the year 1506, Saint Euphemia is prescribed to be venerated on this April 13, with this prayer everywhere: "Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we may rejoice in the merits of Thy holy Martyr Euphemia, and be lifted up by the suffrages of her benefits."
[2] These things being laid down, why should not the sufficiently honorable name of Euphemia have been common at Chalcedon to several women, and why should not several of them have been put to death in hatred of the Christian faith! Certainly in most ancient Martyrologies and many Breviaries Saint Euphemia is found referred to these Ides of April. Eucapia, The one who is first joined to her as companion in martyrdom is written in the Luccan and Blumian copies "Eucapia," in the Corbey "Evapia," in the Epternach "Eucapus"; in the Reichenau, Augsburg, and Aachen "Eucarpus"; in the Arras, Tournai, and Liétry manuscripts, and indeed in the Roman Vatican of the Church of Saint Peter and the Barberini, in the Supplement of the genuine Bede, again it is written "Eucapia"; in Notker "Eucarpia," Secutor, and she is said to have rested after many torments. "Secutor" is in four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, as also in the manuscripts Reichenau, Cassino, Augsburg, Tamlacht, Labbé, Roman of the Church of Saint Peter, Arras, Tournai, and Saint Sabinus in the territory of Tarbes. In some manuscripts, certain of the Martyrs belonging to the following class are added. In some, though not so ancient, is added the elogium which is attributed to Saint Euphemia on September 16: whom, if some wish to be one and the same, we do not wish to pull a contentious rope. Baronius, in the Notes to September 16, hints that it would please him more if we say there were several Euphemias: Relics in Gaul. of whom one would be this one, of whom today in the Gallican Martyrology of Saussay it is said in these words: "At Maclovium, memory of Saint Euphemia Virgin and Martyr, because of certain sacred pledges of her received there: of which an illustrious portion is also preserved at Paris, in the Sorbonne school celebrated through the whole world, transmitted by the Knights of Malta or Rhodes as a precious gift, and received with a solemn convocation of the Academy on December 28 in the year of salvation 1606." From a similar cause perhaps the veneration of Saint Euphemia Virgin and Martyr took hold at Tarbes, at the foot of the Pyrenees, concerning which it is written in the supplement of the same Martyrology: indeed, that some Relics of the companion Martyrs were also brought into the same region, is suggested by the most ancient Martyrology of the monastery of Saint Sabinus or Savinus of Levitania in the Pyrenean mountains in the territory of Tarbes, whence the said Saussay edited excerpts concerning lesser-known Saints belonging to Gaul: for thus it is read there: "On the same day, the birth of Saint Solutor." Cardosus, carried away I know not by what dream, ascribed Saint Euphemia to the Portuguese, because in the pseudo-Julian, a recently fabricated chronicle, no. 58, are read these words: "On November 1, Eumelia is venerated in the city of Abrobinga in Galicia."