Rodicianus Deacon

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.