Martyrs of Alexandria Pristus

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF ALEXANDRIA PRISTUS, SEVUS, LIKEWISE QUADRATUS THE BISHOP, SUNDOPHAGUS, ASTUSUS, DIOMEDES, ZOTICUS, ZATAMGELUS, MOYSEUS.

From the Hieronymian transcripts.

Pristus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Sevus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Quadratus, bishop, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Sundophagus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Astusus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Diomedes, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Zoticus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Zatamgelus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

Moyseus, martyr of Alexandria (St.)

J. P.

This class of Martyrs at Alexandria is noted in the same manner and order among the Hieronymian transcripts published by Fiorentini, The announcements, except Moyseus, of whom presently. But that announcement, even though it does not seem rightly expressed in all the names, can nevertheless be better understood than the text itself of the Martyrology which the same author published under the name of St. Jerome. For that has these words: At Alexandria, the birthday of the holy Pistus, Semus. Likewise of Quadratus the bishop. At Sindophagia, the birthday of the holy Astosius, Diomedes, Zoticus. Somewhat differently is this announcement of the Martyrs written in the said transcripts: At Alexandria, the birthday of SS. Pistus, Sevus, likewise of Quadratus. At Sindophagia, the birthday of SS. Artosius, Diomedicus, Zoticus, Azatangolus, Moyseus. You see that here in both places Pisti is written for Pristi; and that in the last, Moyseus is added. For Azatangoli perhaps one should read Agathangeli. But what Sindophagia may mean I plainly do not understand. Here it is set down as the proper name of some place; but Sundophagus above (perhaps it should be written Syndophagus) seems to signify the proper name of a man, because it is uttered in one series with the others. Fiorentini was at a loss in his notes whether the name Sindofagia is the proper name of a place. For he observes this there: A place unknown to geographers, so far as I know, which raises the suspicion that by a copyist's fault, both in our codices and in the Corbie and the Antwerp, one ought to read Syndiospago \, for a place mentioned in the Authentics*, which he cites: where, he says, Justinian calls the inhabitants of Syndiospagus a certain people. But this suspicion of the learned man does not appear sufficiently founded, since it is altogether uncertain whether that name is the proper name of a man or of a place.

[2] they are given from various transcripts. Further, what method is there of assigning the true and genuine formation and order, both to this name and to the others mentioned above, amid so great a variety of corrupted Hieronymian transcripts? Nor indeed do Fiorentini's copies agree in the number of the Martyrs, as he testifies in his notes, saying: We acknowledge our books to be defective here: for only three heavenly citizens are numbered, Astosius, Diomedes, and Zoticus: Zatangelus the most ancient Martyrology adds; Azatangelus and Moyseus the Corbie. But among the abridged Hieronymian Martyrologies which have been published among us, in the Reichenau I read two Alexandrians on this day thus: At Alexandria, of Pistus, Sevus. Perhaps to the above band of Martyrs belong Artosus and his fellow martyrs, whom we gave from Castellano among today's Prætermissi. In the collection of additions to the Martyrology which was published among us under the name of Bede, these three also are marked from the Barberini copy: At Syndophagia, the birthday of SS. Artosius, Diomedes, Zoticus. Finally, concerning St. Quadratus the bishop, who is marked in the above band of Alexandrian Martyrs, consult what is said on this day concerning SS. Quadratus, bishops. Although it does not seem to me sufficiently ascertained either, on account of so great a confusion of the announcements, whether all the others are to be ascribed to Alexandria. In that place, nevertheless, both in the title above and in the Catalogue of Saints which is prefixed to this day, I have announced them, because in Fiorentini, from whom I transcribed them, they seem somehow to be attributed to the same place, whatever be the case with the names expressed or corrupted in a marvelous manner.

\* Syndiospagi