African Martyrs

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS,

FAUSTINUS, VICTURINUS, SALUNUS, VALERIUS, ALEXANDER, ORBANUS, THEONAS, VALERIA, FORTUNATA, PUBLIUS, FORIANUS, MEMMERUS, FAUSTUS, JANUARIUS, SECUNDUS, MARCIA, SAMBACIA, THEODESTIA, VALERIANUS, URBANUS, HERUS, LUCIUS, VICTOR.

Faustinus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Victurinus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Salunus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Valerius, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Alexander, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Orbanus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Theonas, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Valeria, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Fortunata, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Publius, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Forianus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Memmerus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Faustus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Januarius, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Secundus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Marcia, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Sambacia, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Theodestia, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Valerianus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Urbanus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Herus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Lucius, Martyr in Africa (St.)

Victor, Martyr in Africa (St.)

By G. H.

This second class of martyrs, almost as numerous as the first, is commemorated in the same four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology in these words: "In Africa the birthday of Saints Faustinus, Victurinus, Salunus, Valerius, Alexander, Orbanus, Theonas, Valeria, Fortunata, Publius, Forianus, Memmerus, Faustus, Januarius, Secundus, Marcia, Sambacia, Theodestia, Valerianus, Urbanus, Herus, Lucius, Victor." Of these, Alexander is contained in two copies but is lacking in two; perhaps struck out on account of Saint Alexander who suffered at Lyons in Gaul. There are also lacking in one of the four copies Valerius, Orbanus, Januarius, Secundus. There is also some diversity in the spelling: in place of Orbanus, Fortunata, Publius, Forianus, Memmerus, Sambacia, Theodestia, and Urbanus, are also read Orbana and Urbanus, Fortunus, Publianus, Mammerus, Saubacia and Sambucia, Theudestia and Orfanus. Finally Herus is also written Heris, as though it were in the genitive case.

[2] Some of these are also inscribed in other Martyrologies; of which in the Rheinau and Reichenau manuscripts these things are read: "In Africa of Faustinus, Victorinus." In the Roman manuscript of Cardinal Barberini and the Trier manuscript of Saint Maximin, and also in Greven in his addition to Usuard, a third is added thus: "In Africa the birthday of Saints Faustinus, Victorinus, Valerius." Notker hands down these things: "In Africa of Faustinus and Victorinus, and very many other Martyrs."