ON SAINTS GERMANUS THE PRIEST,
PROSDOCUS THE DEACON, AND VALENTINUS,
MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA, AND PERHAPS ELSEWHERE.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Germanus, Priest, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
Prosdocus, Deacon, Martyr at Alexandria, or perhaps elsewhere (St.)
Valentinus, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
G. H.
[1] The most ancient copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which is now preserved at Echternach, inaugurates this day thus: "III Kalends of May. At the city of Alexandria, Saint Germanus the Priest. And elsewhere, Prosdocus the Deacon and Valentinus." On the contrary, in three other copies of the same Hieronymian Martyrology, namely the Lucca, Corbie, and Blume, the last being omitted, the two former thus
are joined: "At Alexandria, the birthday of Saint Germanus the Priest, of Prosducus the Deacon." In the Barberini manuscript it is thus: "At Alexandria, the birthday of Saints Germanus the Priest and Prostocus the Deacon." But in Notker it is written "Prosdocus." On the contrary in the manuscript codex of the Queen of Sweden, cited by Holstenius, these things are handed down: "At Alexandria, the birthday of Saint Germanus. And elsewhere, of Prosdaus the Deacon." But with the place omitted it is read in the Prague manuscript: "Germanus the Priest and Prosdocius the Deacon." Germanus the Priest alone is mentioned and ascribed to Alexandria by Grevenus and by the manuscripts of the Vatican of Saint Peter, of Tournai of Saint Martin, of Trier also of Saint Martin, of Montecassino, of Altemps, and of Saint Cyriac. Likewise the manuscripts of Aachen, Reichenau, and Rheinau, but in these three is added: "And at Nicomedia, of Prosducus or Prosdocus the Deacon." Of the Martyrs of Nicomedia we shall treat shortly, among whom none is assigned as Prosducus. In the Augsburg manuscript of Saint Ulrich and in the Paris manuscript of Labbeus another error is committed, when it is thus written: "Of Alexander, Germanus. Elsewhere of Prosdocus or Prostucus": as if some Alexander Martyr were to be added. In the Brussels manuscript of Saint Gudula and the Trier manuscript of Saint Maximin, Saint Germanus is designated as a Bishop. In the Arras manuscript, the deposition of Saint Germanus the Bishop and Confessor is celebrated. In the Liège Ado manuscript of Saint Lawrence and the Florarium manuscript, Saint Germanus or Germinus is commemorated as Priest and Confessor. But in ancient monuments he is regarded as a Martyr, and is so celebrated in the Calendar of the Breviary written on parchment which is preserved among us. Galesinius, as he says from old manuscripts but corrupt, joins several Martyrs in this way: "At Alexandria, the blessed Martyrs Vitalis, Christopher, Germanus, Prosdocius, and Urban." Of these, Urban is to be referred to the following class, Vitalis to the fourth, Christopher is not mentioned elsewhere, except by Ferrarius, who in his Notes describes these Saints from Galesinius. Valentinus is noted in the Tournai and Lobbes manuscripts, but joined with the Nicomedian martyrs, as will shortly appear. There is also a Germanus, Abbot and Martyr, inscribed in Grevenus' Appendix to Usuard on April 23: whom we have referred here, because we fear an error was made in the title of Abbot: otherwise he who taught Saint Eudocia the beginnings of the Christian faith on March 1 was a monk, and could have died a martyr: but it is not our custom to found the veneration of Saints upon conjectures.
ACTA SANCTORUM. ON SAINTS PRUDENTIUS, MARTIALIS, SABBATIUS, CODOMANUS, BASILIUS, GERMANUS, FILOCASTUS, BUDENTIUS, URBANUS AND PAGATA,
MARTYRS AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Prudentius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Martialis, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Sabbatus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Codomanus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Basilius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Germanus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Filocastus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Budentius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Urbanus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
Pagata, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)
G. H.
This is the second class of Martyrs recorded in the very ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and is thus expressed in the Echternach codex: "At Nicomedia, of Prudentius, Martialis, Sabbatius, Codomanus, Basilius; likewise Germanus, Filocastus, Budentius, Urbanus, Pacata." They are referred to by the same number in three other codices of the same Hieronymian Martyrology, with some diversity in the spelling, and they are: Prudentius, Martialis, Sabatius, Codomonus and Eodomonus, Baselus and Barelus, Filucasius and Filicosius, Pagata and Pigata. Of these, some are mentioned in other calendars. The Montecassino and Altemps manuscripts: "At Nicomedia, of Prudentius, Martialis," and it is added in the manuscript codex of the Queen of Sweden: "and of 15 others." The Trier manuscript of Saint Martin: "At Nicomedia, of Martialis the Martyr, and of 16 others." It seems that Saint Gratus with six others, of whom we treat in the following class, must then be joined to these. The Tournai manuscript: "At Nicomedia, of Saints Urbanus, Valentinus and Martialis, and the deposition of Saint Prudentius." The Lobbes: "At Nicomedia, of Saints Prudentius, Martialis, and of Saints Urbanus and Valentinus." Of these, Saint Valentinus pertains to the preceding class. But three others are also attributed to Nicomedia in the Trier manuscript of Saint Maximin; and with the city omitted are mentioned in the Prague manuscript. Prudentius and Urbanus are also referred to in the Augsburg manuscript of Saint Ulrich, and in the Parisian of Labbeus: Prudentius alone in the Aachen manuscript: Urbanus alone in Grevenus' Appendix to Usuard, and in Galesinius, but is ascribed to Alexandria as we said above. Molanus in his Appendix to Usuard, first edition, and Canisius in the German Martyrology celebrate the deposition of Saint Prudentius.
ON SAINT GRATUS AND SIX OTHER
MARTYRS IN AFRICA.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Gratus, Martyr in Africa (St.)
Six others, Martyrs, in Africa (Sts.)
G. H.
This is the third class of Martyrs in the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, to which agree Grevenus in the Appendix to Usuard, and the Reichenau and Trier of Saint Maximin manuscripts, with these words or nearly so: "In Africa, of Saint Gratus and six others." In one is added "Martyrs," and it is written "Gractus." Gratus is mentioned without companions and with the place omitted in the Aachen manuscript; and "Gradus" in the Augsburg and Labbeus manuscripts. In the Prague manuscript Gratus is noted with three others.