ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA,
GERMELINA, LAETISSIMA, FELICIA, GERMANA, FELIX, EUANTHIA, VICTORINUS, NICEPHORUS, DIOSCORUS, PAPIAS, SERAPION, AND LIKEWISE JOHN AND JULIUS.
CommentaryGermelina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Laetissima, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Felicia, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Germana, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Felix, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Euanthia, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Victorinus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Nicephorus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Dioscorus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Papias, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Serapeon, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
John, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
Julius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (Saint)
G. H.
The Trier manuscript Martyrology of Saint Martin joins to Saint Anthimus the Bishop and Martyr eleven companions in the contest, as we said above. These eleven perhaps we here express by their names, taken from four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, in which this is the seventh class of Martyrs who are proposed on this day from them. The name of Nicomedia was inserted in the preceding class of Egyptian Martyrs, which we here restore, and report the whole class thus from the said copies: "At Nicomedia of Germelina, Laetissima, Felicia, Germana, Felix, Euancia, Victorinus, Nicephorus, Dioscorus, Papias, Serapion." In the first two names there is some diversity in writing, namely Germelinae, Gemellinae, Gemellini, Gemilliani: so too Laetissimae, Legissimae, and Lactissimae are written: among which it is easy to reject the forms "Germellinae," "Legissimae," and "Lactissimae" as corrupt, their better form appearing elsewhere. That "Evancia" is also written corruptly for "Evanthia," although all the said copies agree in that writing, we not with difficulty believe should be admitted, and so we have corrected; and by that presumed license we have written Nicephorus for Nicoforus. Concerning this and four others last, namely Victorinus, Dioscorus, Papias, and Serapion, a certain scruple presents itself to us, lest they be perhaps those of Corinth, or certainly those who are reported to have suffered in Egypt under the Emperor Numerian with Victor and Claudianus: of whom we treated extensively on February 25. But since other companions are here joined, with this admonition we leave them in such company. Nicoforus and Victurinus are reported in the Trier manuscript of Saint Maximin; and Niceforus with Germanus in the Cologne manuscript ad Gradus. Of Germanus we treated in the preceding class: here however it seems better to say Germana. In the Corbie manuscript printed at Paris thirteen names are indicated thus: "Gemellina, Lactissima, Felicia, Germana, Felix, Euantia, Victurinus, Nicoforus, Dioscorus, Papias, Serapion, John, Julius." The last two are lacking in the three other copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, whom, joined to the others in the said codex, we also propose in the title. If anyone should think that all together with the preceding class should be ascribed to Egypt, we have no wish to pull a contentious rope for such a matter.