Martyrs of Apamea

11 February · commentary

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF APAMEA, POENES OR POEON, AND EUPHRAXIUS OR EUPRAXIUS.

Commentary

Poenes, or Poeon, Martyr at Apamea (St.) Euphraxius, Martyr at Apamea (St.)

G. H.

Several illustrious cities are called Apamea or Apamia: of these, Apamea of Syria II is a metropolis on the Orontes river, whose Bishop Domnus subscribed to the Council of Chalcedon. Another is Apamea in Bithynia II, whose Bishop Callonicus attended the same Council. A third is Apamea of Pisidia, whose Bishop Tarsitius subscribed to the First Council of Nicaea. The fourth, finally, is Apamea in the kingdom of Gaul in the County of Foix, whose Bishop was recently Henricus Spondanus, who rendered excellent service to ecclesiastical history. But in which place these Saints flourished is not clear. The ancient manuscript Martyrology of Reichenau treats of them: On the third day before the Ides of February, at Apamia, of Poenes and Euphraxius. Notker: At Apamia, of Poeon and Euphraxius. Hermannus Greven in his Supplement to Usuard, omitting Euphraxius, has: At Apamia, of Basilianus, of Penis. We have already treated with the same Greven of St. Basilianus the Martyr in Campania and of St. Basilius in Armenia, whom we noted above is here confused with Basilianus. Thus in place of Apamea, Campania has been erroneously substituted in the manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome: On the third day before the Ides of February, in Campania, of Poenes and Eupraxius.