Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

WHO SUFFERED UNDER ABENNER

IN INDIA.

From the Roman Martyrology.

Martyrs under Abenner, in India (SS.)

P. B.

We have found these Martyrs assigned in no Fasti, whether Greek or Latin, before the reformed Roman Martyrology, in which at the III of the Nones of August they are announced thus: Among the Indians, bordering on the Persians, the passion of the holy monks, and of other faithful, whom King Abenner, persecuting the Church of God, ordered to be slain, afflicted with various tortures. The single source of this announcement Baronius indicates thus in the annotations: Concerning these St. John Damascene writes in the Life of Sts. Barlaam and Josaphat. Hence our Rosweyde, in the Lives of the Fathers, page 340, note 13 on the Life of Sts. Barlaam and Josaphat, was of the opinion that here in the Roman Martyrology are designated those seventeen Martyrs, whose Acts are there described in chapters 22 and 23: but these were all monks; and the Martyrology commemorates the passion of the holy monks, and of other faithful: prudently, therefore, Rosweyde there subjoins: Unless in the Martyrology are understood those of whom above in this Life, chapter 1. There indeed the discussion is not of monks alone, but also of other faithful who obtained the palm of martyrdom in the Abennerican persecution. Nay rather, it is most likely that both these and those, and absolutely all others, of whose contest against the impious edicts of that same tyranny that Life makes mention, both in the passages produced and in chapters 4 and 26, are comprehended in the text already recited: since it can be extended to all, and no consideration restricts the very broad sense. For the rest, what the praised Life recounts of our Martyrs, I have thought it enough to indicate: for it is in the hands of all; and it must all be reprinted and discussed in this work at the day which is sacred to Sts. Barlaam and Josaphat, the XXVII of November.