ON SAINT CYRIL,
MARTYR AT AXIOPOLIS IN LOWER MOESIA.
CommentaryCyril, Martyr at Axiopolis, in Lower Moesia (St.)
G. H.
[1] Axiopolis, an ancient city of Lower Moesia or Bulgaria, is situated on the right bank of the Danube river; and it is noted among the ancients that the Danube from Axiopolis onward is called the Ister, up to the mouths by which it flows into the Euxine Sea. The Epternach copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, written nearly a thousand years ago, which we have hitherto used throughout this whole work, thus begins this day: "On the 6th day before the Kalends of May. At Axiopolis the birth into heaven of Cyril." The same is read in manuscript Martyrologies also very ancient, namely of the monastery of Reichenau, near Constance in Swabia, and of the monastery of Rheinau in Switzerland.
[2] In other copies of the same Hieronymian Martyrology, because of a dropped mark, to the said Axiopolis is added "the Martyr Aurelius"; but he is said to have suffered at Rome in the aforementioned most ancient one, where these things are had consecutively thus: "At Axiopolis the birth into heaven of Cyril. And at Antioch of Euthymia. And at Rome of Primitivus, Aurelius. Again at Antioch of Leonides," etc. In more recent ones, therefore, where the words read thus, "At Axiopolis of Aurelius, At Antioch of Leonides," etc., the mark must be supplied. That titles may not be multiplied, we shall join the Antiochene Martyrs, and substitute for St. Cyril two Roman Martyrs.