ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF SMYRNA: EROS, CARPOPHORUS, AND GERONTIUS.
CommentaryEros, Martyr at Smyrna in Asia (St.) Carpophorus, Martyr at Smyrna in Asia (St.) Gerontius, Martyr at Smyrna in Asia (St.)
J. B.
The bishop of Smyrna, and, as St. Jerome attests in chapter 17 of his work On Illustrious Ecclesiastical Writers, the chief of all Asia, was St. Polycarp, whom the Latins venerate on January 26, the Greeks on February 23, as is evident from the Menaea, the Menologion, and the Lives of the Saints by Maximus of Cythera. He is also inscribed on this day in certain Latin martyrologies, as previously noted. There also, on this day, Eros, Carpophorus, and Gerontius completed the contest of martyrdom, as is clear from the ancient martyrologies; the time and manner of their struggle are uncertain. the names of these Martyrs from the Martyrologies That their names were recorded after those of St. Polycarp is perhaps an indication that they were of a later age. The most ancient Roman Martyrology, or that of St. Jerome, says: In Asia, the birth of Polycarp the Bishop with twelve others. At Smyrna, the birth of the holy Eros and Carpophorus. More distinctly, Blessed Notker: At Smyrna, the birth of Eros and Carpophorus. The old manuscript of the monastery of St. Martin at Tournai: At Smyrna, the birth of the ancient Saints Herotus and Garphorus. The manuscript of Reichenau: And in Asia, of Herotis and Carpophorus. The manuscripts of the monasteries of Anchin and Marchiennes add Gerontius: At Smyrna, they say, the birth of the holy Eros, Carporus, and Gerontius. Hermann Greven in the supplement to Usuard published in 1521, and the Aachen Martyrology, associate Felix -- who was previously numbered among the African Martyrs -- with Polycarp and Eros, omitting Carpophorus; for they have: And in Asia, of Polycarp, Eros, Felix, with twelve others. Of these twelve, we treated in the Life of St. Polycarp. Only Eros is found in the manuscript of the monastery of St. Cyriacus at Rome: At Smyrna, it says, the birth of St. Eros.