Martyrs Paul and Primitivus

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS PAUL AND PRIMITIVUS, OR PRIMITIVA, IN PORTUS ROMANUS.

Paulus, Martyr in Portus Romanus (St.) Primitivus or Primitiva, Martyr in Portus Romanus (St.)

By the author G. H.

[1] Portus Romanus, the second episcopal city adorned with the dignity of a Cardinalate, is distant eighteen miles from the City on the right bank of the Tiber, not far from Ostia, the first episcopal city with the prerogative of the Cardinalate. This Portus is now an ignoble retreat of fishermen's huts, In Portus Romanus once famous for the most noble buildings: and it is variously called, now simply Portus, now with a cognomen added -- Portus Romae, Portus Romanorum, Portus Urbis, Portus urbis Romae, Portus Augusti, etc. -- and frequently in the Roman Martyrology, Portus Romanus: many Martyrs were there, in which very many Saints were crowned with the palm of martyrdom. Among these is preeminent St. Hippolytus, Bishop of that same place, from whom the remaining Bishops of Porto are also called Bishops of St. Hippolytus: him and the other Martyrs who suffered in Portus Romanus the Roman Martyrology celebrates on August 22; on which day also, inscribed in the ancient MS. Roman Martyrology attributed to St. Jerome, on this day Paul and Primitivus are celebrated: they are celebrated in Portus Romae. This same MS. Martyrology opens the day of February 24 thus: On the sixth day before the Kalends of March, at Rome in Portus, the birthday of Paul and Primitivus. The ancient MS. of Reichenau also begins with these Saints, but with Portus omitted: At Rome, of Paul and Primitivus. But the MS. of Aachen assigns the place with some doubt, in these words: At Rome, Absolonas, the Birthday of Primitivus and Paul. But what is that Absolonas? Notker makes it a Saint. Likewise, he says, at Rome, of Absolonis. But the same is read in the MS. of St. Jerome and is joined with the Martyrs who suffered at Caesarea in Cappadocia, so that the name appears to have been wrongly transferred and inserted here. Whence we think the preceding entries in that Martyrology should be arranged thus: At Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Birthday of Sts. Herodius, Lucius, Sergius, and Absolon. At Rome, the Birthday of Primitivus and Paul. The former we have relegated to the Catalogue of those Omitted, at the sixth day before the Nones of March. The latter are also reported by Greven in the Supplement to Usuard printed in the years 1515 and 1521: At Rome, of the holy Martyrs Primitivus and Paul.

[2] With Paul omitted, Primitivus alone is celebrated in the ancient MS. Martyrologies of St. Martin at Tournai and of Liessies in these words: By others Primitivus alone is mentioned, At Rome, the birthday of Primitivus. Against this, produced from five ancient MS. Martyrologies of the best reliability and confirmed by the authority of Greven, formerly twice printed, is objected the MS. Martyrology of St. Cyriacus, in which the following is found: At Rome, the Birthday of St. Primitiva. or Primitiva. Thus in our transcript, Rome is written with a diphthong, and Primitiva without a diphthong, so that an error of copyists could easily have crept in from Primitivi. Hence, however, Baronius inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology: At Rome, of St. Primitiva, Martyr. And he notes that the ancient manuscripts, of which he has made mention above, namely of the monastery of St. Cyriacus, agree concerning her, as he has often noted elsewhere. Ferrarius also in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy says: Primitiva, a Martyr, is mentioned only in the Roman Martyrology. Whether she was married or a Virgin, and under which Emperor she suffered martyrdom, where her body rests, is entirely unknown. Which has also happened with many others, of whom only the bare memory survives. Add also that a single letter of someone's name can easily be confused, as appears to have happened here.

[3] Another controversy concerning the Martyr Paul is whether he should be transferred from this February 24 to the sixth day before the Nones of March, Whether the same Paul is reported by others on March 2. because on that day the following is read in the Roman Martyrology: In Portus Romanus, of the holy Martyrs Paul, Heraclius, Secundilla, and Januaria. Baronius annotates: Bede treats only of Paul and omits Heraclius, but he is restored from the said ancient manuscripts. The words of Bede are: In Portus Romanus, of Paul, Secundola, and Januaria. Galesinius, citing Bede alone, added Heraclius, who is joined by others to another class of Martyrs. In the MS. Martyrology of St. Cyriacus only the following is found: On the sixth day before the Kalends of March. In Caesarea of Cappadocia, of Luke the Bishop, Primitivus, at Rome of Paul, Januarius. In the MS. of Tournai the following is read: In Caesarea of Cappadocia, the Birthday of Luke the Bishop, Januarius, and Primitivus. On the same day in Portus Romanus, in the cemetery of Paul, the Birthday of Secundola and Januaria, Virgins. In these Martyrologies, Paul was not joined above to Primitivus: but Greven joins them both on February 24, as we said, and on March 2, in the Supplement to Usuard, in these words: At Rome, of Sts. George, Heraclius, Absolonius, Paul, Januarius, Primitivus, Secundola. These are read in the following manner in the MS. of Reichenau: At Rome, of Primitivus, Erolius (read Heraclius), George, Absolon, Secundula, Januarius. In the MS. Martyrology of St. Jerome these are distinguished differently: At Caesarea in Cappadocia, of Lucius the Bishop and Primitivus. At Rome, of Secundula, Januaria. In the MS. of Aachen, finally, the following is reported: The Birthday of St. Lucius the Bishop. On the Appian Way, at St. Sixtus, the Birthday of Sts. George, Heraclius, Absolon, Paul, Januarius. In Caesarea of Cappadocia, of Luke the Bishop, Primitivus. And these are the Martyrologies that mention these Martyrs on both days: if others should find more certain information and suggest it, we shall bring it forward at the second day of March.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA: LUCIAN, EDITIUS OR EDITITIUS, FELIX, ORBANUS, MARTHA, CRISCONINA, GAIUS, FLORENTIUS, DONATILLA, ROGATILLA, LIKEWISE DONATILLA, MARCELLINA, NUMMADUS, FELIANUS, NIDA, FLAVUS, AFFERIS, ATULINUS, SANULA, CAHIS, DICIANUS, JANUARIUS, DIDDUS, SECURIS, SELLARIS, EXUPPUS, JUBITANA, GEMELIANA, JULIA, FORTUNATA, PEREGRINUS, VICTORICUS, MAXENTIUS, GEGALUS, LIKEWISE LUCIANUS, HONORATUS, FLAVIANUS, FELIX, CASTUS, SATURUS, FELICISSIMUS, VICTOR, MARIA, JANUARIA, RUFINIANA, FORTUNATUS, AURELIUS, RUTILUS.

Lucian, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Editius, or Edititius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Peter, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Felix, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Orbanus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Martha, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Crisconina, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Gaius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Florentius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Donatilla, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Rogatilla, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Donatilla the younger, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Marcellina, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Nummadus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Felianus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Nida, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Flavus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Afferis, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Atulinus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Sanula, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Cahis, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Dicianus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Januarius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Diddus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Securis, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Sellaris, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Exuppus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Jubitana, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Gemeliana, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Julia, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Fortunata, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Peregrinus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Victoricus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Maxentius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Gegalus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Lucian the younger, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Honoratus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Flavian, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Felix the younger, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Castus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Saturus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Felicissimus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Victor, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Maria, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Januaria, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Rufiniana, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Fortunatus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Aurelius, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.) Rutilus, Martyr, at Nicomedia in Bithynia (St.)

By the author G. H.

[1] We fill the page with the names of holy Martyrs, revealing a treasure which over the interval of many years we lament has been almost buried. Notker first indicated this, who perhaps aroused others to so illustrious a contest. At Nicomedia, Martyrs of Nicomedia: Lucian, Julia, he says, of Lucian the Priest. And he ascribes Julia to Africa, who pertains here. The last is reported by Hermann Greven in the Supplement to Usuard, but joined with others: At Rome, he says, of the holy Martyrs Primitivus and Paul, Rutilus, Serapion, Herodius, Lucius. Of these, only the first two we have reported as having suffered at Rome. Rutilus, Rutilus pertains to these Martyrs of Nicomedia. Serapion suffered with others in Egypt, also reported by some on this day, by most on the following February 25, where we shall treat of him and his companions. Herodius, however, called by others Herulus, and Lucius, Martyrs of Cappadocia, we relegate to the sixth day before the Nones of March. The same Greven lists Gemellus among the African Martyrs, who is perhaps here called Gemeliana. Gemeliana, And these things alone we have found in the printed Martyrologies: the rest we give from MSS. The Aachen MS. largely agrees with the mentioned Supplement of Greven. In it the following is read: In Caesarea of Cappadocia, the Birthday of Sts. Herodius, Lucius, Sergius, Absolon. At Rome, the Birthday of Primitivus and Paul. Of Rutilus, Serapion the Martyr. Concerning the word Absolon placed after the word Rome, we have treated above. In a certain Parisian MS. of our Labbe, Edititius and Rutilus are reported, of whom the former is called Editius by others. Editius, or Edititius, In the small MS. Martyrology of the monastery of St. Maximin, though very ancient, the following are joined together: On the sixth day before the Kalends of March, the Birthday of St. John the Evangelist, Orbanus, Sergius at Sirmium. Of these, Orbanus pertains to these Martyrs of Nicomedia, Sergius to the Cappadocians. Orbanus, What is indicated by the word Sirmium we do not grasp. On February 23 we gave various Martyrs who suffered at Sirmium in Pannonia: whence that word was perhaps wrongly transferred to the following day. For on the day before, the Nativity of St. John the Evangelist is celebrated in many MSS. Marcellina In the same MS. of St. Maximin, on the following day, Marcellina is reported, who pertains here.

[2] In the MS. Martyrology of St. Martin at Tournai, only these are mentioned: At Nicomedia, the Birthday of Lucian the Priest. The ancient MS. of Reichenau adds the number of companion Martyrs in these words: On the sixth day before the Kalends of March, at Rome, of Paul and Primitivus, and at Nicomedia, of Lucian the Priest and forty-three others; for which number, if forty-eight is substituted, all those listed above in the title will be comprehended: the most ancient MS. Roman Martyrology, which is attributed to St. Jerome, provides them to us and the others here listed in the MS. of St. Jerome. in this manner: On the sixth day before the Kalends of March, at Rome in Portus, the Birthday of Paul and Primitivus. In Caesarea of Cappadocia, the Birthday of Sts. Herulus, Lucius, George, Absolon. At Nicomedia: Lucian, Editius, Peter, Felix, Orbanus, Crisconina, Gaius, Florentius, Donatilla, Rogatilla, likewise Donatilla, Marcellina, Nummadus, Felianus, Nida, Flavus, Afferis, Atulinus, Sanula, Cahis, Dicianus, Januarius, Diddus, Securis, Sellaris, Exuppus, Jubitana, Gemeliana, Julia, Fortunata, Peregrinus, Victoricus, Maxentius, Gegalus, likewise Lucian, Honoratus, Flavian, Felix, Castus, Saturus, Felicissimus, Victor, Maria, Januaria, Rufiniana, Fortunatus, Aurelius, Rutilus.

[3] Thus far the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and probably written by him up to this point: to which another person added the following and repeated some of the said Martyrs, perhaps thinking them different, some repeated. in these words: At Nicomedia, the Birthday of Sts. Lucian the Priest, Peter the Palatine, Aduitus. This last is called Editius above. We gave on February 22 other Martyrs of Nicomedia, whose leader and standard-bearer was Euterius the Palatine: where we made some observations about this dignity. He who among the Martyrs of this day is Felicissimus was read in the MS. as Felissimus, by an error of the copyists, as it seems. In the same way, he who is Felianus should perhaps be called Felicianus: indeed, in other names also there may be lurking errors, to be corrected from other MS. codices, if they should ever be found.

[4] Concerning the status and condition of St. Lucian, it may be asked whether he should be called a Priest with Notker, Whether St. Lucian was a Priest, and the MSS. of Tournai and Reichenau, and indeed the supplement to the Martyrology of St. Jerome: which was perhaps added by a scribe who thought it was St. Lucian of Antioch, a Priest who suffered at Nicomedia, and whether he is different from St. Lucian the Priest of Antioch? as we said on January 7, on which day he is inscribed in nearly all Martyrologies: and the mentioned MSS. of St. Jerome and of Reichenau begin the same day thus: On the seventh day before the Ides of January, at Nicomedia, of St. Lucian the Priest. The MSS. of Tournai and Liessies add: Who was divided into four parts, and each part, tied to individual stones, was sunk in the sea: which, God restoring them, the body, consolidated with the four stones themselves, was found the next day at Helenopolis. Likewise of the Cleric, Deacon, and men of Antioch, who were tortured seven times and, brought out of prison, were beheaded. Whether the companions are the Clerics, Deacons, and other Antiochenes? These last words are given in other Martyrologies in the singular number, concerning St. Clerus, Deacon of Antioch, concerning whom we then treated on the same January 7. It could otherwise not unreasonably be asked whether those Clerics, Deacons, and Antiochenes of both sexes are not the same forty-eight whom we now report as having suffered on February 24, especially if Lucian the Priest is said to have been placed here a second time, so that he might be joined to his disciples and companions in the struggle.