Martyrs of Alexandria Orion

16 August · commentary

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF ALEXANDRIA ORION, AEMILIUS, AND AGNATUS.

LIKEWISE ON THYRSUS AND HIS COMPANIONS IN PERSIA,

From the Hieronymian Martyrologies.

Commentary

Orion, martyr at Alexandria (St.)

Aemilius, martyr at Alexandria (St.)

Agnatus, martyr at Alexandria (St.)

Thyrsus, martyr in Persia (St.)

His companions, martyrs in Persia (SS.)

J. B. S.

In the text of Florentinius the three Martyrs just named are thus joined together at Alexandria: I know not why the Epternach codex separates the last, writing in this manner: At Alexandria, of Orion, Emelus, and elsewhere of Agnatus. The Corbie codex agrees with the codices of Lucca, but adds two companions, Justinus and Lucius, unknown to all the others for this day. With the text likewise agrees another of the codices of the Queen of Sweden, clearly declaring: At Alexandria, of the holy Orion, Emelus, Agnatus. Even as Rabanus and Notker also read: Of Orion, Aemilius, Agnatus. So indeed I judge it should be read, however much Florentinius may recognize the entry of this day as curtailed and confused with the following day — a thing which the more recent codices have twisted far worse, when they contracted and mutilated the two different announcements of the said entry into one, reading with Greven: On the same day, of the holy Orion, Tirsus, Agnatus. Further, this Thyrsus the chief codices announce separately thus: In Persia, the birthday of St. Tyrsus with his companions. Concerning whom, since I find nothing elsewhere, I am almost compelled to suspect that they might easily be confounded with Thyrsus and his companions, of whom we treated at the XXVIII of January, unless perhaps the placing at Alexandria stands in the way — which may easily have been altered by the carelessness of copyists.

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