ON THE SEVEN ROBBER MARTYRS,
SATURNINUS, INSISCHOLUS, FAUSTIANUS, JANUARIUS, MARSALIUS, EUPHRASIUS, AND MAMMIUS,
ON THE ISLAND OF CORCYRA.
ABOUT THE YEAR 100.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Saturninus, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Insicholus, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Faustianus, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Januarius, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Marsalius, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Euphrasius, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
Mammius, Robber, converted, and Martyr on the island of Corcyra (St.)
G. H.
[1] Corcyra, the most famous island of the Ionian Sea, scarcely twelve miles distant from Epirus, commonly called Corfu, bravely defended until now by the Republic of Venice against the power of the Turks, counted among the first preachers of the Christian faith Saints Jason and Sosipater, apostolic men, instructed either by Christ or by the Apostles. These the Greeks venerate on this April 29, and some on April 27. But the Latins on July 12 and June 25. These men, therefore, as is read among the Greeks, when they had drawn many on the said island to the faith of Christ, were arrested and cast into prison: in which were detained seven leaders of robbers, whose names are handed down as follows: Saturninus, Incischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius, and Mammius. Whom the Saints, by what they did and said, converted to the faith of Christ, and made sheep of wolves; who afterwards, thrown into a bronze cauldron full of pitch, sulphur and wax, received from God the crown of martyrdom. Thus in the eulogy of Saints Jason and Sosipater; after which, in the Great Menaea, the following is added under a new heading: "On the same day, of the holy seven robbers, who were converted by Saint Jason the Apostle, and, drenched in a bronze cauldron of boiling pitch and boiled, underwent martyrdom." Moreover, this distich is added:
"Knowing that Eden is the robber's lot, These men hastened to obtain the same in flaming pitch."
The Menology of Cardinal Sirleti presents the same from the said Menaea, and from it the following is read in today's Roman Martyrology: "On the same day, of the holy seven Robbers, who, converted to Christ by Saint Jason, obtained eternal life through martyrdom." In the Menology of Emperor Basil on April 27, the Apostolic men are referred to with a rather long eulogy, from which we excerpt the following, which pertains to these men:
"Contest of the holy Martyr Saturninus and his Companions. These seven holy martyrs of Christ were famous leaders of robbers: who, when they were detained in prison, on account of the precepts of heavenly doctrine they had heard from the holy Apostles of Christ, Jason and Sosipater, gave themselves over to the Christian religion. Having been led out from prison and taken outside the city, they were thrown into vessels heated by fire and filled with pitch, wax and oil, and thus completed their martyrdom." So it reads there. We treated on the preceding day of Saints Zeno, Eusebius, Neon, and Vitalius, crowned with martyrdom in the same persecution and on the island of Corcyra.