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.