Martyrs Pontemus

18 August · commentary

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS PONTEMUS, PILENTIA, TATIANA AND MARCIANA, HELIANA AND LAUTIA OR LAUCIANA,

At Amasea in Pontus.

Commentary

Pontemus, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

Pilentia, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

Tatiana, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

Marciana, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

Heliana, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

Laucia or Lauciana, M., at Amasea in Pontus (St.)

J. B. S.

Whether all these were slain for Christ on the same day and in the same place is not sufficiently ascertained: they are reported together in the Hieronymian codices in Florentinius, in the copies of which Martyrology some diversity occurs in the expression of the place and of the names. The words of the most ancient Epternach codex are: In Pontus, of Pontemus, Pilentia, Tatiana and Martiana, virgins, of Heliana and Lautia, or, as in the Corbie codex, Lauciana; where also the place is expressed: In Pontus, in the city of Amacia, and in the text of Florentinius, Amisia, concerning which he says more in that place — things which certainly do not settle the matter, unless Amasea be substituted, as it has been expressed in the title. In vain would you seek any light from the others which we call abridged, since they are themselves more corrupted. For the rest, what they suffered, at what time, and under what tyrant, there is nothing whereby you might conjecture even from afar. Of the Massa Candida, which on this same day follows in the Hieronymian codices, there will be treatment with the Roman Martyrology at the XXIV day of this month; where it will also be examined whether the other names which there follow — Discia or Disseus, Amacia, Potomus, Martyrius, Agapitus, and Ziacus with their companions — form part of the same Massa.

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