Quirinus Bishop and Martyr

ON SAINT QUIRINUS BISHOP AND MARTYR

DEPOSITED IN THE ROMAN CEMETERY OF PRÆTEXTATUS.

Quirinus, Bishop, in the Roman cemetery of Praetextatus (Saint)

G. H.

We proceed with the four ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology: in which, after the three classes of Martyrs already indicated, these things are read according to the Epternach codex. "At Rome, of Quirinus the Bishop." In the Lucca and Blumian Mss.: "At Rome the deposition of Quirinus the Bishop." In the Corbey Ms. printed at Paris: "At Rome the deposition of Quirinus, Secundinus." But Florus in the Arras, Tournai, and Liège Mss.: "At Rome the deposition of Saint Quirinus Bishop and Martyr." Rabanus, Notker, with the Aachen, Reichenau, and Rheinau Mss. have these things: "At Rome the deposition of Quirinus the Bishop." But "Quirici" is read in the Barberini, Saint Maximinus, and Saint Cyriacus Mss. The Trier Ms. of Saint Martin and Greven: "At Rome of Quirinus the Bishop."

[2] The place of deposition is so indicated in the Roman Ms. of the Duke of Altemps: "At Rome in the cemetery of Praetextatus the deposition of Quirinus the Bishop." To which is added "Via Appia," in the Ms. codex of the Queen of Sweden, and thus Lucas Holstenius published it in his Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology. Hence the Vatican Ms. of Saint Peter is to be corrected, where it is read "At Rome of Praetextatus, Quirinus." Namely, "in the cemetery of Praetextatus." In the Liège Ms. of Saint Lambert companions are added in these words: "On the same day of Quirinus the Bishop with twelve others." But these seem to be transferred to the following class, as Secundinus to the other Martyrs of this day.

[3] Of what place Quirinus was Bishop is not indicated: and no one among the Roman Bishops or Pontiffs marked with such a name appears. Nay, perhaps he was crowned with martyrdom elsewhere, and his body brought to Rome, was deposited on the Via Appia in the cemetery of Praetextatus. With the place not appended, Quirinus is placed among the other Martyrs in the Augsburg Ms., and Quirinus the Bishop in the very ancient Trier Ms. of Saint Maximinus. Saint Quirinus of Siscia in Pannonia was a Bishop and Martyr, whose body, on account of the incursion of the barbarians, was brought to Rome by the Christians, and deposited on the Via Appia, as will be said on his birthday, June 4.

[4] But concerning this Bishop Quirinus, how shall we judge it treated here? Since that translation perhaps was made long after the Hieronymian Martyrology was composed. Nor is this the one concerning whose Translation we had said would be treated on February 5 and 6, among the pretermitted there, and whom we promised to discuss in this place: because indeed Saint Quirinus the Tribune, whose acts we have discussed on March 30, many place on April 30; and to him belongs that Translation of relics: wherefore in the said place in February the name of the month will have to be changed, and instead of April, March must be set.

ON SAINTS RODICIANUS DEACON, TERENTIUS AND MARINUS

PRIEST, DAGARUS WITH TWELVE OTHERS. METURUS, CLEMENS, LUCINUS,

TELESFORUS, PRIMOSUS, SATURNINUS, EMILIANUS, MAJORICA, SATURNINA.

Martyrs of Aphrodisias.

Rodicianus, Deacon, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Terentius, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Marinus, Priest, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Dagarus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Twelve others, Martyrs of Aphrodisias (Saints)Meturus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Clemens, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Lucinus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Telesphorus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Primosus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Saturninus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Emilianus, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Majorica, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

Saturnina, Martyr of Aphrodisias (Saint)

G. H.

[1] This is the fourth class of Martyrs in the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology: and it, after Saint Quirinus, Martyrs indicated deposited among the Romans, is so handed down in the Epternach codex: "at Frodiria of Rodicianus the Deacon, Terentius, Marinus the Priest, Dagarus, with 12 others, of Meturus, Clemens, Lucinus, Telesforus, Primosus, Saturninus, Emelianus, Majorica, Saturninus." There is some difference in the other copies. And first, the arena of Martyrdom in the Lucca and Blumian Mss. is also "Frodiria"; in the Corbey Ms. printed at Paris, it is "Afrodiris," place of martyrdom by which we think Aphrodisia is signified, an Episcopal city of the province of Europa in Thrace, also known to Ptolemy book 3 chapter 11, and called Ἀφροδισίας; or Aphrodisia the metropolis and Archiepiscopal see of Caria, also called by Ptolemy in book 5 Ἀφροδισίας. And so much for the place. The names of the Martyrs themselves agree in most: only instead of Rodicianus, Dagarus, Meturus, Lucinus, Telesforus, Saturninus, also is written Rodocianus, Dicarus, Maturus, Lucianus, Telisforus, Saturnina: which indeed is a small discrepancy. Dagarius is mentioned on this day in the Ms. Martyrology of Tamlacht in Ireland.

[2] As here is Rodicianus the Deacon, so among the Greeks on May 3 is celebrated Saint Rhodopianus the Deacon with Diodorus, a similar one on May 3. at Aphrodisias, a city of Caria, under Diocletian, who endured many beatings from his fellow citizens, and at last was attacked with frequent stoning even to death: whom we judge to be different from Rodicianus and his companions; because in these no Diodorus is named. More easily will we admit that the same wrestling-place of martyrdom fell to Rodicianus and Rhodopianus; not difficultly however will we believe them to be one and the same person, whose name the Latins less correctly expressed, if something of new proof should be added for establishing this opinion. For the cause of removing Rhodopianus from this day and from this society in which he suffered, to May, and joining him with Diodorus, could be assigned the simultaneous translation of each into some of the churches of Constantinople, which on that day there was accustomed to be celebrated.