Julian and Marcian

ON STS. JULIAN AND MARCIAN, MARTYRS, AT AEGEAE IN CILICIA.

Julian, Martyr at Aegeae in Cilicia (S.) Marcian, Martyr at Aegeae in Cilicia (S.)

G. H.

[1] We distinguished the two Cilicias on the 4th of February in the Acts of St. Theophilus the Penitent: of the second of these the metropolis was Anazarbus, at Aegeae, a city of Cilicia II, and under it the episcopal city of Aegeae, whose Bishop Alexander subscribed the Council of Chalcedon. By Ptolemy, Stephanus, and others they are called Ἀἰγαὶ, by Strabo in book 14 Αἰγαῖαι, who indicates the site in these words: "After Mallus is Aegeae, a small town with an anchorage … after Aegeae is Issus, a small town with an anchorage, and the river Pindus." Domitius Corbulo, set over the retaining of Armenia by Nero, met Quadratus at Aegeae, a city of Cilicia, according to book 13 of the Annals of Tacitus, chapter 8. No monuments of this city are said to be extant at this time, various Martyrs are venerated: but its memory is made immortal to posterity by the many Martyrs slain there for the faith of Christ, among whom Sts. Cosmas and Damian are eminent, whose Acts are to be illustrated on the 27th of September.

[2] The ancient manuscript Martyrology of the monastery of Reichenau, or Augia Dives, near the city of Constance in Germany, offers two athletes who suffered at Aegea, in these words: on this day Sts. Julian and Marcian: "In the city of Aegea, of Julian, Marcian." Notker: "In the city of Aegea, of St. Julian." In the very ancient manuscript Roman Martyrology, which is called that of St. Jerome, these words are read: "In the city of Spoleto, of Vitalian, Vitalis, Marcian, Felicula, Julian": of whom we have said that Vitalis and Felicula are generally attributed to Rome, and Sts. Marcian and Julian to Aegeae in Cilicia.

[3] Besides the said Martyrs of the city of Aegeae, the same Martyrology of St. Jerome brings forward another pair of athletes of Christ, in these words: whether Seganus and Julian are distinct from them: "In Cilicia, of Seganus and Julian." The rest is hidden. Here a scruple arises, whether, by putting in the name of Marcian, it should be read thus: "In Cilicia, namely in the city of Aegeae, of Marcian and Julian." But perhaps, because these two are read earlier in the same martyrology, they are others: it is enough to have pointed this out.