Cantidius

ON STS. CANTIDIUS, CANTIDIANUS, AND SOBEL,

EGYPTIAN MARTYRS.

Their cult among the Greeks and Latins.

Cantidius, Martyr in Egypt (S.)

Cantidianus, Martyr in Egypt (S.)

Sobel, Martyr in Egypt (S.)

J. P.

Those three Martyrs are indeed commemorated on this present day both in the Menology published in Canisius from Cardinal Sirleto's Latin version, In the Roman Martyrology, in the Menology of the Greeks, and in the great printed Menaea, and in the Roman Martyrology; but not in the same way: for the Roman has thus: Likewise of the holy martyrs Cantidius, Cantidianus, and Sobel, Egyptians; where it both joins all under one announcement and makes all Egyptians; to which announcement I have conformed my own expressed in the title above; although I do not know on what foundation the most Eminent Baronius, founder of the Roman Martyrology, attributes all three to Egypt; since the Menology which I mentioned, and the Menaea, name only Sobel an Egyptian, and form the names of the two former Martyrs also a little differently. The Menology thus has it: On the same day (the fifth of August), of the two holy martyrs Cattidius and Cattidianus, who, being stoned for the confession of the Christian faith, ascended into heaven. Observe moreover that, besides the kind of death which is here added, both these are announced separately from Sobel: concerning whom, after the interposed commemoration of St. Nonna, whose festive memory also recurs among us on this day, these things are subjoined there: On the same day, the birthday of the blessed martyr Sobel the Egyptian, who, persevering in the confession of Christ, was consummated.

[2] and these Martyrs are inscribed in their printed Menaea. The printed Menaea agree both in the writing of the Martyrs' names and in the mentioning of the first two separately from the third Martyr, these little verses being added besides:

They set up lofty heaps of stones, O Word, By which two, of one dust, ascended to you.

Most lofty heaps of stones, O Christ, they raise, By which these two from the same dust climb to you.

To Sobel, who is there said to have been "pierced by an arrow," it is then sung thus:

If you be spelled backward, O Sobel, You will gather "belos" — the instrument of your end.

With its syllables drawn backward, Sobel is "belos," An arrow, O Martyr, the instrument of your end.

For "Sobel" by anagram, or transposition of letters, is "belos," in Latin a javelin or arrow, by which instrument, that is, by the blow of that implement, this Martyr of like name put an end to his life.