African Martyrs Victorinus

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS VICTORINUS, EUCIRUS, PAULUS, DONATUS, FORTUNA, AND TWENTY-EIGHT OTHERS.

Victorinus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Eucirus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Paulus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Donatus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Fortuna, Martyr in Africa (S.) Twenty-eight companion Martyrs in Africa

G. H.

[1] He who holds the principal place among these athletes is alone inscribed in the manuscript Martyrology of Reichenau in these words: "In Africa, of Victorinus." SS. Victorinus, In the manuscript of Aachen and in Hermannus Greuen in his supplement to Usuardus, some companions are named: "In Africa, of Victorinus the Palatine, Donatus, Fortuna, Donatus, Fortuna, and twenty-nine others." Jacobus Pamelius in his Notes on the Epistle of Lucianus, which is the twentieth in St. Cyprian, from a manuscript Martyrology of the library of the Williamites of Bruges, indicates the name of the fourth Martyr: "On the eighth Kalends of March. In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Victorinus the Palatine, Paulus, Paulus, Donatus, Fortuna, and twenty-nine others." These are read in the same words in the Martyrology of Galesinius, who attests that he received them from manuscript codices. But with Paulus omitted, another is substituted in the ancient manuscript of the Roman Martyrology, or that of St. Jerome, in which this is read: "In Africa, of SS. Victorinus, Eucirus, and 28. Who is the Palatine? Eucirus the Palatine, Donatus, Fortuna, and twenty-eight others." Should the Palatine man perhaps be counted as distinct from the other Martyrs? Is Eucirus the same as the one below called Euterius? But one is said to have suffered at Nicomedia, the other in Africa, if there is no scribal error. In the Martyrology of St. Jerome, "Palatine" (whether it should be considered a personal name or a dignity, concerning which see below) is joined to Eucirus; in others, to Victorinus -- unless this should be ascribed to the fault of copyists.

[2] Pamelius judges that Lucianus is treating of these Martyrs in the said epistle in St. Cyprian, when he writes this to Celerinus: "And therefore, dearest brother, greet Numeria and Candida, who, according to the precept of Paul and the other Martyrs whose names I append: whether there is mention of them in the epistle of Lucianus. of Bassus in his perjury, of Mappalicus under questioning, of Fortunio in prison, of Paulus after questioning, of Fortuna, Victor, Hereneus, Credula, Herene, Donatus, Firmus, Ventus, Fructus, Julia, Martialis, Ariston, who, God willing, died in prison." So reads the passage. Paulus, Donatus, and Fortuna may be considered the same as those named in the Martyrologies on this day; but in that epistle there is no mention of Victorinus, Eucirus, or the Palatine. Concerning some of the Martyrs enumerated by Lucianus, we treated on the eleventh of February; concerning others we shall treat on the twenty-fifth of the same month and the seventeenth of April, at which places, since very many companions are also named whom Lucianus does not mention, we stated on the eleventh of February that this is evidence that those persons were principally indicated who belonged either to the household of Celerinus, Numeria, or Candida, or were more especially known to them.

[3] St. Cyprian, in Epistle XXIII to the Clergy of Rome, reproves the aforementioned Lucianus because certificates of communion written in his hand were being given to many in the name of Paulus, whether this is the St. Paulus in Cyprian? and that Lucianus, while Paulus was still in prison, not only freely gave certificates written in his own hand in Paul's name, but even after his death continued to do the same under his name, saying that Paul had commanded this of him. These words should perhaps be understood of the St. Paulus just mentioned.

[4] That certain relics of St. Victorinus the Martyr are preserved at Bologna, both in the church of St. Stephen and in that of St. Bartholomew, Relics of St. Victorinus at Bologna. which belongs to the Clerks Regular (Theatines), is reported by Masinus in his survey of Bologna on the twenty-second of February; but whether they are relics of the Victorinus mentioned above, or of another, is unclear.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA: EUTERIUS THE PALATINE, VICTORINA, PAULA, EMERITA, ANTONIANA, DATIVA, ROGATIANA, ANTIGA, URBANA, MAXIMA, MARINA, MATRONA, PEREGRINA HER DAUGHTER, SECUNDULA, JUSTA, CASTULA, FLORENTIUS, VICTOR, MARCELLINA, CASTA, DONATULA, LIBOSA, FLAVIA, DOTA, FURNATA, LUCIANUS, AMICUS, REGINA, CYRIACUS, GALATIUS, VALERIUS, GORGIANUS.

Euterius the Palatine, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Victorina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Paula, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Emerita, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Antonina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Dativa, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Rogatiana, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Antiga, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Urbana, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Maxima, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Marina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Matrona, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Peregrina, her daughter, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Secundula, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Justa, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Castula, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Florentius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Victor, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Marcellina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Casta, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Donatula, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Libosa, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Flavia, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Dota, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Furnata, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Lucianus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Amicus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Regina, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Cyriacus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Galatius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Valerius, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.) Gorgianus, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.)

G. H.

[1] Nicomedia, the metropolis of Bithynia, provided a distinguished theatre for innumerable Martyrs; for in that very city Diocletian resided when he raised the most savage persecution against the Christians, and there, in order to provoke by his own example the governors he had appointed elsewhere, very many Martyrs suffered at Nicomedia: he carried out the most inhuman slaughter of Christians. Hence ten thousand Martyrs are inscribed in the tables of the Roman Martyrology on the eighteenth of March, who were struck by the sword at Nicomedia for the confession of Christ. On the thirteenth of June are celebrated the very many holy Martyrs who, hiding in neighboring mountains and caves, joyfully accepted martyrdom -- whom the Greeks in the Menologion on the fourth of September number as three thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. And on the twenty-fifth of December are commemorated many thousands of Martyrs who, enclosed in a church, were consumed when fire was set around it.

[2] Those who are recorded as having suffered there on the twenty-second of February are known only by their names, which, as if rescued from a shipwreck, the ancient manuscript of the Roman Martyrology presents, These too are assigned to the same city. which is attributed to St. Jerome. In this, after the Martyrs of various classes have been listed, the following is found in the last place: "Likewise at Nicomedia, of Euterius the Palatine, Victorina, Paula, Emerita, Antoniana, Dativa, Rogatiana, Antiga, Urbana, Maxima, Marina, Matrona, Peregrina her daughter, Secundula, Justa, Castula, Florentius, Victor, Marcellina, Casta, Donatula, Libosa, Flavia, Dota, Furnata, Lucianus, Amicus, Regina, Cyriacus, Galatius, Valerius, Gorgianus."

[3] Who were the Palatines? Euterius, who is placed as it were at the head, appears to be called a Palatine. Thus on the fourth of March, St. Caius the Palatine is venerated along with twenty-seven others drowned in the sea; where Baronius notes that all who served in the Palace from the household of the Emperors were called Palatines, and that moreover there was a special order of Palatine soldiery. In the Notitia Dignitatum of the Empire, there frequently occur Palatine Vexillations, Palatine Legions, and Palatine Auxiliaries. But whether "Matrona" should rightly be joined to Marina and Peregrina considered her daughter, or whether both Matrona and perhaps Filia should be considered proper persons in their own right, may be doubted.

[4] The name of the city of Nicomedia may cause someone greater difficulty, since apart from Euterius the Palatine, the names of the Martyrs are Latin, and very many are women's names. But Latin names were also used in the provinces, did these Martyrs suffer elsewhere? and many people from everywhere, especially from Italy, were accustomed to converge upon the city where the Emperor resided, for the sake of military service, commerce, or other business. Otherwise, the celebrated St. Thecla the Virgin is on this day inscribed in most ancient Martyrologies, and in the manuscripts of Reichenau, Laetien, and St. Cyriacus, as well as in Bede, Rabanus, and Notker, she is assigned to Nicomedia. In the manuscript of St. Jerome, this is read: "At Antioch, the birthday of St. Gallus the Consul. The birthday of St. Thecla the Virgin." Perhaps the word "Nicomedia" should be interposed, having been transferred to those Martyrs through the carelessness of copyists. But we judge that nothing should be changed on account of this slight conjecture, especially since "likewise at Nicomedia" is also read there.

[5] Victor the Martyr is recorded on the twenty-third of February by Felicius, and Maximus in the very ancient manuscript of St. Maximinus; perhaps these are the same Victor and Maxima who are numbered among these Martyrs.

ON THE MANY MARTYRS WHO SUFFERED IN ARABIA.

AROUND THE YEAR CCCIV.

Many Martyrs in Arabia

G. H.

[1] Eusebius, in Book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History, describes the terrible persecution raised by Diocletian against the Christians, and narrates the struggles of the principal Martyrs throughout the entire Empire; but at length, as if wearied by so many slaughters, he exclaims in Chapter 23: "What need is there to pursue many things and to bring forth new battles of pious Martyrs throughout the world, one succeeding another?" And after indicating the struggle of St. Adauctus and of all the inhabitants of the city of Antandrus in Phrygia (as we said on the seventh of February), he proceeds to other Martyrs in Chapter 23 with these words: "What need is there now to commemorate the remaining Martyrs by name, or to enumerate the multitude of men, Martyrs who suffered in Arabia are reported by Eusebius, or to describe in words the various kinds of wounds or punishments which the distinguished Martyrs endured? Some were struck by axes and perished, as happened to those who were in Arabia; some were tormented by having their legs broken, as befell those who were in Cappadocia; some also, hung by their feet in the air with their heads toward the ground, were suffocated by fire gradually kindled and slowly blazing, and by the smoke from the burning material, as happened to

those who were dwelling in Mesopotamia." So reads the passage, which Rufinus also describes in Book 8, Chapter 11. "But whence," he says, "do we have the means to enumerate the individual sufferings of each Martyr one by one? by Rufinus, For who could even recount those things by which the holy Martyrs in Arabia were struck by axes?" Nicephorus also, in Book 7, Chapter 11: "But what need is there," by Nicephorus, he says, "to review the Martyrs individually, or even to inquire into their number, or to describe with the pen such varied forms of punishment? Since most of them were struck by the axe, as happened to those in Arabia," etc. I omit what is added about the Martyrs of Cappadocia and Mesopotamia, whose sacred memory is recalled each year on the twenty-third of May. Other Martyrs who suffered in Arabia are inscribed in the tables of the Roman Martyrology on the twenty-second day of February in these words: "In Arabia, the commemoration of the very many holy Martyrs and in the Roman Martyrology. who were most cruelly slain under the Emperor Maximinus." The Martyrs of Cappadocia and Mesopotamia, as well as Adauctus with his companions, are said in the same Martyrology to have been crowned under Maximian Galerius. But we said both on the seventh of February regarding St. Adauctus at what time did they die? and on the fourth of the same month regarding SS. Phileas and Philoromus that they were rather killed while Diocletian himself was still reigning, when Maximian Galerius was Caesar, which also seems to be said of these Martyrs. Consult Section 2 of the Acts of St. Adauctus, and Section 1, number 5, of SS. Phileas and Philoromus.