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.
ON SAINTS VALENTINUS, MARCIANUS, BONONUS OR BENONIA, VITALIS, AUGUSTUS, VICTURINUS, MANILUS, METRONA THE VIRGIN, MACULUS AND MEGINUS,
MARTYRS AT PERUGIA IN ETRURIA.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Valentinus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Marcianus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Bononus, or Bononia, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Vitalis, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Augustus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Victurinus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Manilus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Metrona, Virgin, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Maculus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
Meginus, Martyr, at Perugia in Etruria (St.)
G. H.
The fourth class of Martyrs is also thus set forth in the Corbie copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris: "And at Perugia in Tuscany, of Valentinus, Marcianus, Bononus, Vitalis, Augustus, Victurinus, Manilus, Metrona the Virgin, Maculus, Meginus." Meginus is absent in three other copies. In the Echternach one is read "Theusi" instead of "Tusciae"; in the Lucca one "Benoniae"; in others "Bononiae" instead of "Bononi." Notker thus divides them into two groups: "At Perugia in Tuscany, of Valentinus and Marcianus. At Bononia, of Vitalis and Agricola." These Bolognese Martyrs are venerated on November 4. But since here other companions are joined to Vitalis, we judge that the Bolognese Martyr is not under discussion. Bononus Martyr is referred to in the Index of the Paris Martyrology compiled by Luc d'Achery, and Benonia Martyr in the Index of Francesco Maria Fiorentini to his Lucca Martyrology. Indeed in other copies it would be written "At Bononia," or "the city of Bononia," if the place of martyrdom were indicated: as may be commonly observed.
The Aachen and Rheinau manuscripts, with Grevenus: "At Perugia, of Valentinus"; and it is added in the Reichenau: "of Martianus"; but with the place omitted Valentinus is indicated in the Augsburg manuscript, Valentinus and Vitalis in the Labbeus manuscript, Vitalis and Victurinus in the Trier manuscript of Saint Maximin, and Martianus in another manuscript of the same monastery. In the Ado manuscript of the Queen of Sweden the following is read on April 30: "At Paris" (in others "At Perugia") "of Valentinus and Damian," where Damian seems to be placed instead of Marcianus. However, if these at the same time and indeed at Paris have some veneration, we do not wish to prescribe anything to the contrary.
ON SAINTS PUDENTIUS, MARCIANUS, FILOCOSUS, THEODORA THE VIRGIN, PADES, AND TWO OTHERS,
MARTYRS OF ALEXANDRIA.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Pudentius, Martyr at Alexandria in Egypt (St.)
Marcianus, Martyr at Alexandria in Egypt (St.)
Filocosus, Martyr at Alexandria in Egypt (St.)
Theodora, Virgin, Martyr at Alexandria in Egypt (St.)
Pades, Martyr at Alexandria in Egypt (St.)
Two others, Martyrs at Alexandria in Egypt (Sts.)
G. H.
This is the last class of Martyrs referred to in the aforesaid copies in these words: "At the city of Alexandria, of Pudentius, Marcianus, Filocosus, Theodora the Virgin, Pades with two others." Instead of Filocosi, "Filocusi" and "Filocusae" are read; and for Theodora, "Thodosia" in the Corbie codex. Saint Theodora the Virgin is mentioned in two Barberini manuscripts, and in some Montecassino one. Pudentius in the Augsburg and Trier of Saint Maximin manuscripts. Also named on this day is Saint Theodosia the Virgin in the Greek Synaxary manuscript of the Paris college of the Society of Jesus, and it occurred to us to wonder whether this might perhaps be the Theodora, or Theodosia the Virgin of Tyre, who has her solemn memory on the second day of April.
ON SAINTS THEOGNIDES, RUFUS, ANTIPATER, THEOSTICHUS OR EUTYCHETES, ARTEMAS, MAGNUS, THEODOTUS, THAUMASIUS AND PHILEMON,
MARTYRS AT CYZICUS ON THE HELLESPONT.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Theognides, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Rufus, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Antipater, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Theostichus or Eutychetes, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Artemas, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Magnus, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Theodotus, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Thaumasius, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
Philemon, Martyr, at Cyzicus on the Hellespont (St.)
G. H.
Cyzicus, a most ancient and once most noble episcopal city of Lesser Mysia, on the Hellespont and the Propontis, sent these nine Martyrs of Christ to heaven: whose sacred memory in the Menology of Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus is thus set forth on this day April 29: Eulogy from the Menology of Emperor Basil, "The contest of the holy Martyrs Theognides and his companions, who completed their martyrdom at Cyzicus. The holy Martyrs of Christ Theognides, Rufus, Antipater, Eutyches, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius, and Philemon, were from diverse regions: but at that time, when persecution had been stirred up against the Christians, they met together in the city of Cyzicus: where, when they were openly proclaiming the faith of Christ, they were arrested by the idolaters and brought before the Governor of the city. There, first harassed by various interrogations, then cruelly beaten, they were thrust into prison. Afterwards, led out from prison, they were ordered to deny Christ and sacrifice to the idols. But when they refused to give their assent, but boldly detested the error of the Gentiles and the vain worship of idols, and despised the Governor himself, with their sacred heads cut off they completed their martyrdom. Moreover their holy Relics, deposited at Cyzicus, bring about many healings to the glory of Christ." Thus far the Menology of Emperor Basil.
[2] Another from a manuscript Synaxary, The same holy Martyrs are celebrated by the ancient manuscript Synaxary of the Paris college of Clermont of the Society, in these words: "On the same day, April 29, the contest of the nine holy Martyrs of Christ who suffered at Cyzicus, Theognides, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius and Philemon. These most divine Martyrs, originating from diverse regions, assembled, and arrested at Cyzicus and interrogated, by the generous greatness of their spirit shamed the Governor, cursing the vain imposture of idols; nor, tortured by various contrivances of torment, could they be drawn away from the faith: but much more they offered themselves as living victims to the living God: and thus with their heads cut off by the sword they were carried off: and therefore were rewarded with the benefit of healing incurable diseases freely." So it reads there: which very nearly the same is read on this day April 29 in the Menaea manuscripts of Milan of the Ambrosian library, marked with the letter O and number 148, likewise in those of Paris of Cardinal Mazarin and
of the Dominican Fathers in the piazza of Saint Honoratus, and in those of Dijon preserved by Pierre-François Chifflet. But on the day before, April 28, the same nine Martyrs are celebrated in the printed Menaea, Memory on April 28. in Maximus Cythereus, and in the Anthologion of Arcudius. In the Menaea, moreover, they are praised with the following distich:
"An image of the nine bodiless orders, Nine men with their heads cut off by the sword."
The nine Martyrs of Cyzicus are also mentioned, with their names unstated, on this April 29 in the Typicon of Saint Sabas, in the Calendar of the Greeks edited by Genebrard, and in Molanus' Additions to Usuard; also in the tablets of the Muscovite calendar at the most illustrious Laurentius Vander Hem's in Amsterdam, where all are painted in the same habit as the Roman Martyrs, with a little cross in their hand as the sign of martyrdom: but the middle of the nine bears an Episcopal habit. If the Acts of their martyrdom, of which we have only a summary, can somewhere be unearthed, it will be possible to know which of them is to be given the prerogative of a more sacred title; now we set forth what we know. Possevinus in his Apparatus, describing the Ruthenian calendar, through the ignorance of his interpreter noted "Cilicia" for "Cyzicus." Would that, just as the number and place are exactly signified everywhere, the time were also somewhere noted: for we do not think it lawful for us to proceed by conjectures, when no foundation is apparent for establishing them.
ON SAINTS QUINTIANUS AND ATTICUS,
MARTYRS AMONG THE GREEKS.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Quintianus, Martyr among the Greeks (St.)
Atticus, Martyr among the Greeks (St.)
G. H.
The memory of these Martyrs is found in the Paris manuscripts of Cardinal Mazarin and of the College of Clermont of the Society of Jesus, indicated with only these words: "And the contest of the holy Martyrs Quintianus and Atticus." The same, with their names written somewhat differently, are referred to in the manuscript Menaea of Milan of the Ambrosian library and of Turin of the Duke of Savoy, in which the memory of Saint Quantanus or Cantanus and Taticus is inscribed: and everywhere they are noted after Saint Auxibius, of whom we treated among those passed over.