Macarius and Julian

12 August · commentary

ON STS. MACARIUS AND JULIAN,

MARTYRS IN SYRIA.

From the Martyrologies.

Commentary

Macarius, Martyr, in Syria (S.)

Julian, Martyr, in Syria (S.)

J. B. S.

The Saints marked the Roman Martyrology thus announces on this day: In Syria, of the holy martyrs Macarius and Julian. And Baronius notes thus: Bede, Usuard, and Ado also treat of these, and from them the rest. But in those three he did not find the title of martyr appended. A little more distinct is our observation on Usuard, which it will be well to repeat here: Macarius and Julian are praised by the Hieronymian Martyrologies, the little Roman, and Ado. From the last we believe they were received in the same words: Notker preferred to transcribe the words of the Hieronymian. Further, the Hieronymian add the position: at the village of Magaratum or Magaritum, which Florentinius seeks in vain, sweating also to explain those things which he reported in his text; where "a great district (otherwise: religious observance) of monks meets," so that you may understand that they too were monks. Not of these but of the Alexandrians does the Menology of the Greeks speak at the day XXX of October, as can be shown in its place: there Cronion and several companions are joined; here treatment is made of the two Syrians alone, most probably martyrs, since scarcely any others are recorded in the Hieronymian — apart from the fact that Peter in his Catalogue, book 11, number 214, expressly writes: Macarius and Julian on the same day are crowned with martyrdom in Syria.

ON ST. JULIAN AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

IN ISTRIA.

From the Hieronymian Martyrologies.

Commentary

Julian, Martyr, in Istria (S.)

His Companions, Martyrs, in Istria

J. B. S.

Behold another St. Julian on this day, known only from the Hieronymian codices and from them to Notker, expressed thus in the last place in the text of Florentinius: And in Istria, the birthday of St. Julian with the companions of them. A little more correctly in the Corbie codex: And in Istria, the birthday of St. Julian with his companions. The Epternach codex reads simply: In Istria, of Julian. Nor from the codex of the Queen of Sweden, or from other lesser or abridged copies, or from Notker or elsewhere, is anything further dug out, so that this observation of Florentinius is sincere and true: But who Julian, crowned in Istria, was, and who his companions, I confess that hitherto I am ignorant. Which we too are compelled candidly to confess.

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