ON STS. CASTOR AND STEPHEN,
MARTYRS AT TARSUS IN CILICIA.
CommentaryCastor, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (Saint)
Stephen, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (Saint)
G. H.
Four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, already continuously cited by us, begin the 27th day of April in this way: "Kalends of May, in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, of Saint Castor," or "the birthday of Saint Castor": there is added in the Corbie copy printed at Paris, Memory of Saint Castor, "Germanus": but he is below reported among the Egyptian Martyrs, perhaps transferred hither thence: however, if anyone shall judge that he should be added, it will be permitted by us. Of the one Martyr of Tarsus, Saint Castor, treat Usuard, Notker, and the ancient manuscripts, the Reichenau in Swabia, the Centule of Saint Richarius, and the one in the Queen of Sweden's library praised by Holstenius, and many others. In the manuscript of Ado of the same Queen, Genesius is joined to Castor; but he is below brought forward among the Martyrs crowned in the province of Lydia. In the Roman manuscript of the Duke of Altemps, Ursicinus is given as companion to Castor; but this is either joined from other days, or rather is Victorinus, to be recalled below among the Martyrs of Nicomedia. Concerning another companion there may be greater controversy, because these things are read in today's Roman Martyrology: "At Tarsus in Cilicia, of Saints Castor and Stephen, Martyrs." And Baronius notes: and of Stephen joined by various, "Usuard of Castor alone, Maurolycus of both: to whom the old manuscripts agree." Indeed before Maurolycus, Peter de Natalibus reported both in book 11 of his Catalogue, chapter 130 and number 130, and after him Bellinus in the Martyrology printed according to the usage of the Roman Curia in the year 1498, and cited by him was added by Molanus in the Auctarium of Usuard. Among the manuscripts are the Vallicellian of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome, which Baronius had, as well as the Prague of the Cathedral Church. Galesinus joins several in this way: "At Tarsus in Cilicia, of the holy Martyrs Castor, Stephen, Hermes, and Victor." But Hermes or Hermites is below counted among the Martyrs of Melitene in Armenia, and Victor among the Egyptians: and so, with no place assigned, among these and others the memory of Saint Castor is recalled in the Aachen manuscript, as also of Saint Stephen: but with others interposed in the Augsburg manuscript of Saint Udalric and the Parisian of Labbe. The same Saint is joined to Castor, and indeed with the title of Bishop, whether he was a Bishop? also in the manuscript Florarium, but with several others, in this manner: "At Tarsus in Cilicia of Saint Castor. And of Saint Stephen the Bishop. Of Antonius the Presbyter and Vitalis the Martyrs." Vitalis is venerated on the following day; Antonius has seemed to us to be the same one who is venerated at Lucca with the title of Confessor, although the epitaph makes him a Martyr. It is true indeed that the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology name Stephen the Bishop and Antonius the Presbyter after Saint Anthimus, who suffered at Nicomedia, which gave Florentini occasion to believe that they too were reported as Martyrs of Nicomedia; and thus no protection would be had hence for confirming the title of Martyr to Antonius of Lucca: but in this we do not approve his judgment. Whether, however, the said Stephen the Bishop, if he did not suffer at Nicomedia, should be believed to have suffered at Tarsus, because he is by some joined to Castor, we very much doubt; nevertheless we permit him to be so placed in the title, lest we should seem to have attributed nothing to the judgment of Baronius, who so joins them: and therefore we also keep silence about the dignity of Bishop in the same title, if perhaps another Stephen killed elsewhere is commemorated, just as we judge that Antonius was killed elsewhere than at Tarsus or Nicomedia.