ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA, VICTOR, ZOTICUS, ACINDYNUS, ZENO, CAESARIUS, SEVERIANUS, AND ALSO CHRISTOPHORUS, THEONAS, ANTONINUS,
IN THE YEAR 303.
CommentaryVictor, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Zoticus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Acindynus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Zeno, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Caesarius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Severianus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Christophorus or Chrysophorus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Theonas, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Antoninus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
By G. H.
These Martyrs, divided into two companies, the ancient Greek Menology, arranged in the tenth century of Christ by order of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus, brings forward on two different days; and it celebrates the former group with this elogium on April 18: "The contest of the holy martyr Victor and his companions. The first class referred to April 18 in the Menology of Emperor Basil At that time, when the impious Emperor Diocletian had stirred up that greatest and most terrible persecution against the Christians, and the unconquered Martyr of Christ George, having been apprehended, had been subjected to manifold torments, and far beyond human strength had wrought admirable prodigies, many who saw these things gave in their name to the Christian faith; and of these some indeed were immediately beheaded or burned with fire, but others were thrust into prisons, that afterwards they might endure tortures. Among the former were the holy Martyrs of Christ Victor, Acindynus, Zoticus, Zeno, and Severianus, who, when they had seen Saint George bound to a wheel and in no way injured thereby, embraced the faith of Christ. Wherefore, when Diocletian had burst into wrath, they were first subjected fiercely to many torments; and at last, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols, their heads having been cut off, they completed their martyrdom."
[2] and the latter to April 19 So far that account. On the following day, April 19, these things are contained in the same Menology: "The contest of the holy Martyr Christophorus and his companions. These three Martyrs also, on the same day on which the Great-Martyr George was tormented with various torments, were standing by the Emperor bearing spears; and when they had seen the prodigies, casting aside not only their arms but also their military belts, they freely professed Christ before him. Apprehended therefore and bound in chains, they were thrust into prison. But on the following day they were brought out of prison and, loaded with chains, set before the Emperor himself. And first indeed with threats, then also with tortures, though moderate, they were compelled to forsake Christ; but when they kept the constant and unchangeable faith of Christ, they were suspended and burned on the sides with torches, and so cast into prison. After this, they were again brought out of prison and once more ordered to deny Christ and sacrifice to the idols. Refusing to obey, they consummated their martyrdom." Thus the Menology of the Emperor Basil, composed seven hundred years ago. Of the others then cast into prison and afterwards crowned we shall treat on April 23 and 24. All these are referred to the days already cited by the manuscripts of the Turin Menaia of the Duke of Savoy, and the Parisian Menaia of Cardinal Mazarin, and others of the Dominican Fathers in the Square of Saint Honoratus.
[3] The same Martyrs in the printed and manuscript Greater Menaia and in Maximus, Bishop of Cythera, are referred to this April 20 with this elogium attached: Both classes on April 20 in the Menaia "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, Caesarius, Severianus, Christophorus, Theonas, and Antoninus. All these, under the impious Diocletian's reign, underwent the contest of martyrdom, when also the many-palmed Athlete Martyr of Christ George, having been apprehended, was being tormented, and amid his sufferings was plainly working admirable prodigies. For Victor, Acindynus, Zoticus, Zeno, and Severianus, when they saw Saint George set on a wheel and yet in no way injured, all with one voice professed themselves Christians, and were soon struck in the head. But Christophorus and Theonas and Antoninus were attendants, bearing spears before the Emperor, who, on a certain day while they stood by the Emperor, and saw from him how the Great-Martyr George was cruelly handled with examinations—yet he before them had called upon Christ God and suddenly recalled a dead pagan to life—straightway casting away their military belts and laying down their arms in the sight of the Emperor and of the whole assembly, they professed that Christ is the true God. Apprehended therefore and led in chains, they were shut up; and after some days brought forth to the tyrant, suspended on the rack and cruelly beaten, their sides also seared with burning torches, and at length cast into a fire, they bore off the crown of martyrdom."
[4] in the Menology of Sirletus Thus the said Greek Menaia, with "Cae" omitted in the narrative itself, which we think should be ascribed to the carelessness of printers or copyists. From the Menaia, Sirletus in his own way formed this elogium in his Menology for this April 20: "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, Caesarius, Severianus, Christophorus, Theonas, and Antoninus, crowned with martyrdom under the impious Emperor Diocletian." Martyrology of Galesini Galesini, citing the Greek monuments, hands down this: "In Greece, the holy Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, Caesarius, Severianus, Christophorus, Theonas, and Antoninus. These, having undertaken the struggle variously for Christ the Lord against Diocletian the adversary of the faith, tortured and variously slain, underwent martyrdom with admirable constancy." and the Roman Finally, the same Martyrs are referred in today's Roman Martyrology in these words: "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, Caesarius, Severianus, Chrisophorus, Theonas, and Antoninus, who under Diocletian, variously tested, completed their martyrdom." In the notes the Greeks are cited in the Menology, namely Sirletus's, whether Christophorus is better called Chrysophorus in which, and in Galesini, he is called Christophorus, as also in the Menology of the Emperor Basil and the rest of the Menaia. But this attendant of Diocletian seems rather to have been called Chrysophorus, or Chrestophorus, and by others is called Christophorus after his martyrdom. The same Christophorus is joined on April 24 to Saints Eusebius, also referred to April 24 Neon, Leontius, and Longinus, instructed by Saint George in the faith of Christ, and struck with the axe, as was Christophorus himself. Concerning the dead man recalled to life by Saint George, in his Acts under April 23 it is treated, as also of the various torments inflicted on him.
[4] This would have been the end of the praise of these Martyrs, had they not, after the publication of the Roman and Galesini's Martyrology, and after Sirletus's Menology in the year 1604, been seen to be assigned to no place or region, because in their praise no mention was made of Saint George, and therefore they were believed to be the property of the first occupant. In order therefore to attribute them to Spain, they were inserted in the Pseudo-Chronicle of Lucius Dexter, forged at the beginning of this century, in which under the year of Christ 300 these things are read: "At Iturissa among the Vascones the holy Martyrs Socrates, in the Pseudo-Chronicle of Dexter wrongly assigned to Spain Dionysius, Victor, Zoticus, Arcadius, Caesarius, Severinus, who under Diocletian, variously tortured, completed their martyrdom, to whom are added Christophorus, Antonius, Theonas, who are variously tortured." To this place Rodrigo Caro annotates thus: "Of Socrates and Dionysius the Roman Martyrology on April 19; of the rest on April 20, the place of martyrdom being passed over in silence." But this we have now shown to be Nicomedia, where in the presence of Diocletian they earned the palm. Bivarius at this place in Dexter assigns them the same days in April. "But the codex of Dexter," he says, "has Christophorus instead of Chrisophorus, with a small letter varied." But lest all things be the same as with the said martyrologies, Zeno and Acindynus are omitted, and Arcadius is thrust in, received I know not whence; and those whom others call Severianus and Antoninus are written by this Pseudo-Dexter as Severinus and Antonius. The names of all were taken up by Tamayo Salazar in his Spanish Martyrology, he too assigning them to Iturissa in the land of the Vascones, and conjecturing that Iturissa is now called Sangüesa.
ON SAINTS ARADIUS THE PRIEST AND TACCIUS, MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA.
CommentaryAradius, Priest and Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
Taccius, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
By G. H.
The most ancient copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, written out nearly a thousand years ago, which we have hitherto used, opens the twentieth day of April with these two Athletes in these words: "The 12th day before the Kalends of May. At Alexandria, of Aradius the Priest and Taccius." The very ancient Martyrologies of the monasteries of Reichenau near Constance in Swabia, and of Rheinau in Switzerland,
have this: "At Alexandria, of Aradius the Priest, and Silvanus." But this one, in the earlier copy and generally in other Martyrologies, is referred to the African Martyrs under a different arrangement, which here follows in sequence.