ON SAINTS PRIMITIVUS AND AURELIUS,
MARTYRS AT ROME.
CommentaryPrimitivus, Martyr at Rome (St.)
Aurelius, Martyr at Rome (St.)
G. H.
The memory of these Martyrs has been preserved, as we said, in the most ancient copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and is thus expressed: "And at Rome of Primitivus, Aurelius." A certain Primitivus, in some copies Primitiva, Martyr in the Roman port, is referred to February 25, but had as companion Paul, likewise Martyr. Another St. Primitivus, Roman Martyr, is venerated on June 10, having suffered with SS. Getulius, Cerealis, and Amantius under the Emperor Hadrian: from both of these we think the present one to be distinct. The Martyr Aurelius is mentioned on this day by three other copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and by a certain manuscript of Trier of St. Maximinus, and they ascribe him to Axiopolis. But this happens, as we have shown above, by the fault of copyists, by whom the dash was omitted in transcribing. With no place of struggle indicated, mention is made of Aurelius in the manuscripts of Paris (Labbe) and Aachen; but in the latter "Aurinus" is written: likewise in Greven's Supplement to Usuard. In the Augsburg manuscript of St. Ulric "Africa" is prefixed: but that name ought to be referred to the African Martyrs soon to be presented.