Peter the Deacon and St. Hermogenes His Minister

ON ST. PETER THE DEACON AND ST. HERMOGENES HIS MINISTER,

MARTYRS AT ANTIOCH.

Peter, Deacon, Martyr, at Antioch (St.)

Hermogenes, Martyr, at Antioch (St.)

G. H.

The memory of these Martyrs is celebrated in Martyrologies only, without any notice of their Acts. In Rabanus this is read: "At Antioch, the birth into heaven of Peter the Deacon and of Hermogenes." Ado adds the title of Saints. Usuard hands down more about Hermogenes in these words: "At Antioch, of the holy Martyrs Peter the Deacon, and Hermogenes his minister." Things similar to these are read in very many manuscript and printed Martyrologies, with which today's Roman Martyrology plainly agrees. But just as Hermogenes is said to be his minister, that is, Peter's, so in some manuscripts he is said to be the minister of Peter. Thus has the manuscript codex of the Queen of Sweden praised by Holstenius, and another manuscript of St. Cyriacus often cited by Baronius. But with the word "minister" omitted, Peter is placed first as a distinct Martyr in the Martyrology of Notker, and indeed with two other companions, in these words: "At Antioch, the birth of Sts. Peter the Deacon and Hermogenes,

Peter, Fortunatus, and Marcianus." Four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which we have so far obtained and often cite, begin this day from these Saints thus: "15th day before the Kalends of May. At Antioch the birth of Sts. Peter the Deacon and Hermogenes minister of Peter; Fortunatus and Marcianus." The same things are read in another manuscript Martyrology of the monastery of Corbie. In the manuscripts of the Augustan St. Udalric and of our own Parisian Labbe this is found: "At Antioch, Peter, Hermogenes, Marcianus." The same is handed down, without mention of place, in the manuscripts of Aachen and Tallaght. In the manuscripts of Monte Cassino and Altaemps they are explained thus: "At Antioch, of Peter the Deacon and Hermogenes the minister of Peter, of Fortunatus." Without any prejudice, we refer Fortunatus and Marcianus to the following class, because even with Sts. Peter and Hermogenes there is added in another Cassinese manuscript Isidorus, who is referred below to the Cordoban Martyrs, or Julianus, who pertains to the African Martyrs. Peter the Deacon is mentioned in an ancient Missal written over 600 years ago under April 20. We also omit adding a second Peter, because just as in others Hermogenes is written as "his minister," that is, Peter's, so in others, with the word "his" omitted, the name of Peter seems to be added. In Grevenus, Peter the Deacon is celebrated on the following day, but is called Confessor.