Euthymius

ON SS. EUTHYMIUS, CONFESSOR, HIS WIFE, AND CRESCENTIUS THEIR SON, MARTYR,

AT PERUGIA IN UMBRIA,

From the Roman Martyrology and Ferrari.

About the time of the Diocletian persecution.

Euthymius, confessor, at Perugia in Umbria (St.)

His wife, at Perugia in Umbria. Crescentius, their son, at Perugia in Umbria (St.)

BY J. P.

Perugia Augusta is of most ancient origin, and one of the twelve chief cities of Etruria, which at this time most writers assign to Umbria as the capital of that province; whence the Apostolic legate administers justice to the subject Umbrians, The cultus and in it a noble university flourishes, where minds are cultivated in the good arts and in jurisprudence. These and many other things Ughelli, vol. 1 of Italia sacra, from column 67. Of that city mention has also been made by us in vol. 2 of January, on the XXIX day, page 924. The Roman Martyrology records these three Saints thus: At Perugia, St.*

Euthymius the Roman, who, fleeing the persecution of Diocletian, rested there in the Lord with his wife and his son Crescentius. Ferrari in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy announces Euthymius only, and in a note says: On this day at Perugia only a commemoration is made of him. But Crescentius the boy is reported in the Roman Martyrology on the XIV day of September, on which day his Acts must be treated, of which we have proper lessons, in which it is indicated that he suffered martyrdom at Rome outside the Salarian gate. Baronius in his notes on the day just mentioned says: Of the martyrdom (of Crescentius the boy) and of his other companions I have read manuscript Acts which we received from the church of Perugia. Meanwhile we give what Ferrari narrates of St. Euthymius the confessor, excerpted, as he indicates, from the Passion of St. Crescentius the martyr, in these words:

[2] Euthymius the Roman, under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and his Life. being instructed in the faith of Christ together with his wife and his son Crescentius by Epigmenius the priest, was baptized by him. But when the persecution against the Christians grew heavier at Rome, he set out thence to Perugia with his son, that he might there pass his days in peace in holy works: for although he worshiped Christ secretly, rarely coming forth in public, staying long at Perugia in hiding, yet he loved Him truly and from the heart. And so, when he had brought up his son in the faith, and had admonished him never through the threats or punishments of the impious to fall away from it, the images of the vain gods being set at naught, and when he was now in the 11th year of his age, Euthymius the confessor passed to Christ at Perugia on the IV of the Kalends of September. I have set above, about the time of the Diocletian persecution, because that he lived under this emperor the notices just given, whose text I have brought forward, do indeed indicate, yet they do not add the year of his death.

ON SS. NICÆA AND PAUL, MARTYRS,

AT ANTIOCH IN SYRIA,

From the sacred calendars and the Roman Martyrology.

Nicæa, martyr, at Antioch in Syria (St.)

Paul, martyr, at Antioch in Syria (St.)

J. P.

I read that many and various Martyrologies make mention of these martyrs; but let it suffice to have brought forward a few of them. Among the Auctaria to the Usuard published by us this is written on this day: In Antioch of Syria, Saints Nicæas and Paul. In Florentinius they are recorded in the same place, the same author noting in his observations: Our books call him Niceus, not Nicea; and the most ancient Martyrology, Nicius. They are also in our manuscript Florarium in this manner: In Antioch of Syria, the birthday of Saints Nycea and Paul. The Roman Martyrology announces them thus: At Antioch in Syria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Nicæa and Paul; and it is said in the notes that these are treated of also in the aforesaid most ancient manuscript Martyrology, and in Molanus in his additions to Usuard.