ON THE HOLY EGYPTIAN MARTYRS JULIUS, MILICUTUS, THYRSUS, PLESEUS, RONEUS, ORBASUS, ORINION, AGATHO, RECUMBUS, BASTAMUS, SERMATA, PROTHIRION, COLORUS, LUSUS, ARATUS, THEONITA, HIPPUS, GERMANUS, SATURNILLA, PECTIMUS, SERAPION, LIASTAMON, PAPIAS, PAMPIRUS, DIOSCODUS, HERODUS, POTAMON, PETICONIDES, CUMMINUS, ZOTICUS, CYRIACUS, HIPPIAS.
CommentaryJulius, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Milicutus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Thyrsus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Roneus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Orbasus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Orinion, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Agatho, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Recumbus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Bastamus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Sermata, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Prothirion, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Colorus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Lusus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Aratus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Theonita, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Hippus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Germanus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Saturnilla, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Pectimus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Serapion, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Liastamon, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Papias, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Pampirus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Dioscodus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Herodus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Potamon, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Peticonides, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Cumminus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Zoticus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Cyriacus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Hippias, Martyr in Egypt (St.)
G. H.
[1] These illustrious champions of Christ are supplied by the ancient Roman Martyrology, that is, St. Jerome's, in which the following is read for this day: In Egypt, Julius, Their names in the Martyrologies, Milicutus, Thyrsus, Pleseus, Roneus, Orbasus, Orinion, Agatho, Recumbus, Bastamus, Sermata, Prothirion, Colorus, Lusus, Aratus, Theonita, Hippus, Germanus, Saturnilla, and Pectimus. Serapion, Liastamon, Papias, Pampirus, Dioscodus, Herodus, Potamon, Peticonides, Cumminus, Zoticus, Cyriacus, Hippias. Whether a second group of Martyrs begins with Serapion may be debated. Some of these Martyrs are exhibited in the manuscript Martyrology of the monastery of Reichenau near Constance, in these words: And in Egypt, Julius, Pleseus, Roneus, Orfasus, Agatho. Concerning the various persecutions against Christians in Egypt, we have often treated in this work. In the very ancient lesser manuscript Martyrology of St. Maximin near Trier, the following is read: On the 5th day before the Ides of February, at Alexandria, the deposition of Thomas, Orion, and 600 others. Perhaps this Orion is the same as the one whom the writer of this Martyrology took to be Orinion in other sources; but it rather pertains to the following day, on which he is recorded in both manuscripts, that of St. Jerome and of Reichenau. Others add St. Thomas to the African Martyrs, where we have said that the reference seems to be to St. Thomas the Apostle, whose feast day is December 21. Why might not the name Thomas perhaps be a corruption of Theonita, who is also counted among these Martyrs?
[2] The thirty-seven Martyrs in Egypt whom we recorded on January 18 as having completed their glorious contest might seem to some to be the same as those mentioned here. whether the same as those of January 18? But it is expressly stated that there were thirty-seven there, and some names appear here that are absent there; if they were combined, they would make a larger number. Many names are also expressed differently in each place. Moreover, just as in Italy, Africa, and Spain many Martyrs are found bearing the same names, so too there could have been such in Egypt. We for our part have been unable to determine anything certain and have preferred to present them again rather than rashly expunge them, or conflate them as the same when they might perhaps be different.