ON STS. FORTUNATUS AND MARCIANUS
MARTYRS IN AFRICA OR AT ANTIOCH.
CommentaryFortunatus, Martyr, in Africa or at Antioch (St.)
Marcianus, Martyr, in Africa or at Antioch (St.)
G. H.
We fluctuate in doubt as to which region we ought rather to assign these Martyrs to. Rabanus, having related the Antiochene Martyrs of whom we have already treated, separates these with these words: "And in Africa, of Fortunatus and Marcianus." The same is found in the Rheinau manuscript; and in the Reichenau manuscript other African Martyrs are added, of whom we treat in the next class. The manuscript of the Augustan St. Udalric and the Parisian of Labbe join Marcianus to Peter and Hermogenes; but they separate Fortunatus from him in this way: "In Africa, of Barutus, Donatus, Macedo, Fortunatus." Both, however, separated from both these and those, are assigned separately to Africa in the Martyrology published under the name of Bede, in which and in others recently cited in the Roman Martyrology, when other African Martyrs have been treated, these are added: "Likewise in Africa, of the holy Martyrs Fortunatus and Marcianus." Meanwhile, in the four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology and in two others, namely the Roman of Cardinal Barberini and the Corbie, and in Notker, both, together with the martyrs Peter the Deacon and Hermogenes recorded in the earlier class, are attributed to Antioch. We leave the place of martyrdom undecided for those who may bring forth more certain records for one or the other. With no place given, both are commemorated in the manuscript Martyrology of Tallaght in Ireland, and Marcianus in the Supplement of Grevenus to Usuard. Fortunatus is in the manuscripts of Arras, Tournai, and Liessies, among the Additions to Bede published by us before volume 2 of March.