ON THE HOLY EGYPTIAN MARTYRS VICTORINUS, VICTOR, NICEPHORUS, CLAUDIAN, DIOSCORUS, SERAPION, AND PAPIAS.
AROUND THE YEAR 285.
Historical Collection.
Victorinus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Victor, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Nicephorus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Claudian, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Dioscorus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Serapion, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Papias, Martyr in Egypt (St.)
By G. H.
[1] That the Acts of these Martyrs were once committed to writing we seem able to gather from the eulogies of them that are found in various Martyrologies, and those very ancient ones. Therefore, until those Acts -- if they still lie hidden somewhere in some language -- are brought to light, we have thought it proper to recite here what the Martyrologies record of them. First, then, on February 24 the ancient manuscript Roman Martyrology, on February 24 they are listed as having suffered in Egypt or that of St. Jerome, has the following about them near the end of that day's entry, which perhaps should have been assigned to the following day, so that the heading "the fifth before the Kalends of March," which was placed after them only by a copyist's error, should have been placed before them: Victorinus, Victor "In Egypt, the birthday of Saints Victorinus, Victor Ninivitta, Nicophorus, and Serapion." Someone might suspect that, in order to distinguish Victor from the many Saints of the same name, his homeland was added -- namely, the Assyrian city of Nineveh -- or certainly that this surname was given to him for some other reason. Nicephorus In the manuscript Martyrology of Reichenau, the following is recorded on the same February 24: "In Egypt, the passion of Saints Victorinus and Victor Ninentia" -- for which the former manuscript reads "Ninivitta." But perhaps Victor and Ninentia, or Ninivitta, are different persons. Of this Ninentia, however, no mention is found except in these two manuscripts among the ancients. Serapion is listed on the same February 24 in the manuscript Martyrology of Aachen, Serapion and the supplement of Greven to Usuard, and is joined to other Martyrs, whom we have distributed into various classes in that place, judging that Serapion should be added to these Egyptians.
[2] The remaining Latin authorities treat of the same on this February 25. The manuscript Martyrology of St. Martin of Trier indicates only the number: on February 25 among other Latins "In Egypt, of seven Martyrs." The names are indicated in the manuscript Martyrology of Marianus Gorman in Ireland, but with the place omitted and in a different order than among the rest: "Victor, Victorinus, Claudian, the same, and also Claudian Papias, Serapion, Dioscorus, Nicophorus." The old Roman Martyrology published by Rosweyde listed them in the order that the rest generally follow: "In Egypt, of Victorinus, Victor, Nicophorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias." The Liege manuscript of St. Lambert adds: "under the Emperor Numerian." Dioscorus and Papias But the Cologne manuscript of St. Mary at the Steps and the manuscript Florarium add: "under the governor Sabinus." The manuscript of St. Paulinus of Trier, after listing the names, adds: "Who all dedicated a solemn martyrdom to Christ under the prince Mimerian (read: Numerian), under the governor Sabinus." In the same manuscript, he who is Dioscorus to others is Dionysius. By a similar error in the manuscript of the Carmelite house of Cologne, Nichodorus and Papinion are written, who are Nicophorus and Serapion to others; indeed, even the Emperor Numerian is absurdly called Juvenian: "Who under the Emperor Juvenian endured exquisite kinds of torments." Usuard, in virtually all manuscripts, handwritten and printed, says: "In Egypt, the birthday of Saints Victorinus, Victor, Nicophorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, under the Emperor Numerian; of whom the first, second, and third, constantly enduring exquisite kinds of torments for the confession of the Deity, the remaining four -- Claudian and Dioscorus -- were burned by flames, and Serapion and Papias were struck down by the sword. And so all dedicated a celebrated martyrdom." The same is read in the Roman Martyrology of Bellini and in the Viola Sanctorum. In place of Claudian, Molanus has Claudius. In the Martyrology printed at Cologne in 1490, these words are added at the end: "they dedicated their martyrdom under the governor Sabinus."
[3] The printed Bede and the manuscript of the monastery of Richenberg celebrate them with this longer encomium: "In Egypt, the birthday of Saints Victorinus, Victor, Nicophorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, the same with a longer encomium in Bede under Numerian, under the governor Sabinus. Of these, the first was cast into a ball hollowed from oak and pierced on every side, and was pierced through each hole for a very long time, and when too much blood flowed, he was taken out of the ball and beheaded. The second, with hands and feet amputated, was cast into the same ball, endured the torments of the first, and was finally beheaded. The third, when he had voluntarily entered the ball, the judge in indignation ordered him to be brought out and roasted for a time and turned over on a gridiron with coals placed beneath. When he persisted in his confession, he was lifted off and cut to pieces with a sword and yielded up his spirit. Of the remaining four, Claudian and Dioscorus were burned by flames; Serapion and Papias were finished by the sword." Thus Bede, whose words, with a few changed here and there, are found in Ado of Vienne, Notker, and others Peter de Natalibus, book 3, chapter 151, and the manuscript Martyrologies of Queen Christina of Sweden, of St. Maximin of Trier, and of St. Gudula of Brussels, in which it says "the birthday of seven holy brothers." In the manuscript Ado of St. Lawrence of Liege, Moscorus replaces Dioscorus, and the governor Fabianus replaces Sabinus. In the manuscript of Queen Christina of Sweden, with the Emperor Numerian omitted, after the names of the Martyrs this is read: "Who were slain under the governor Sabinus, of whom the first was cast into a ball hollowed from oak," etc. In the Trier manuscript, "hollowed from ivory" is found. The same is said by Equilinus to have been "pierced with knives." But the third, according to Notker, the judge ordered "to be slightly roasted." Finally, at the end of the Brussels codex, "all, slain by the sword, completed their celebrated martyrdom." From the said eulogies, the following was transferred into today's Martyrology: "In Egypt, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, under the Emperor Numerian. The first two of these, constantly enduring exquisite torments of punishments for the confession of the faith, were beheaded. Nicephorus, after overcoming blazing gridirons and fires, was cut to small pieces. Claudian and Dioscorus were burned by flames; Serapion and Papias were struck down by the sword."
[4] Some assign the city of Egypt in which these glorious athletes earned the crown of martyrdom as Diospolis. Did they suffer at Diospolis? For Peter, Bishop of Chalon, in the Topography of the Holy Martyrs composed two hundred years ago and later revised by Maurolycus, writes under the letter D: "Diopolis, a city of Egypt. Here Victorinus, Victor, Nicophorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, and Papias were Martyrs under the Emperor Numerian." Diospolis Parva was a city in Egypt. Here dwelt Amos, Macarius the Egyptian, and Isidore, disciple of the anchorite Anthony. Ptolemy in book 4, chapter 5 calls both "Diospolis," the one "great" and the other "small." The former, of which we treat here, was the metropolis of the Thebaid, which Maurolycus, Galesini, Canisius, and Ferrari in the Topography of the Roman Martyrology also establish as the arena of these Martyrs. Galesini narrates the torments of the first somewhat differently: "At Diospolis in Egypt, of the holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, of whom Victorinus, enclosed in a cage made from oak, pierced on every side, and wounded through the holes with knives, was struck with an axe while his head protruded. Victor suffered the same," etc. In his Annotations he directs that Nicophorus be replaced with Nicephorus, Nicephorus, to others Nicophorus for so it is written in all. In the present Roman Martyrology it is written Nicephorus, as the Greeks also call him, of whom we shall presently treat; Baronius too in the Annals, volume 2, at the year 284, number 10, to which year he assigns their martyrdom.
[5] The same author in his Notes on the Roman Martyrology asserts that the Greeks treat of them in the Menologion on January 31. Moved more by the authority of Baronius, we treated of them both on that January 31 and on the preceding January 30 and the following February 1, among those passed over, and thence deferred further inquiry to this February 25. On January 30, however, in the Menologion published by Canisius, the following is found: By the Greeks they are reported on January 30 "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudian, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias, who suffered in the city of Corinth under the Emperor Decius." But a longer encomium is given on January 31 in the great Menaea: January 31 "On the same day, the memory of the holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias, Corinthians. Under the reign of Decius they were apprehended for their confession of faith in Christ and brought before Tertius the Proconsul, who was administering Greece with consular authority at Corinth. But the Saints were sent forth from Corinth, and after very many and intolerable torments they ended their lives by various deaths. Victorinus, Victor, and Nicephorus, compacted and crushed in a mortar, gave up their souls. Claudius, with hands and feet severed, departed this life. Diodorus was burned, Serapinus was beheaded, and Papias was drowned, completing their martyrdom." These things are in those Menaea, which are also read in Cytheraeus's Lives of the Saints. Ten verses are added in the Menaea, in which the following is indicated:
"Three, with their limbs crushed in a mortar, became noble. These three appeared as members of the body of Christ. Claudius gave illustrious first-fruits to the Lord from his body -- his hands and feet. In fire too the crown of the contest is given: You entered, Diodorus, and are crowned as a Martyr. Then, O life, I shall strengthen you against the fear of the sword, just as God also strengthened Serapinus. You were bathed, O Papias, in the bitter baths of the sea, and you obtained the sweetness of heavenly delights."
[6] Galesini in his Annotations at February 1 says: "The distinguished combats of these men, bravely and constantly undertaken for the faith of Christ, set forth in Greek and rendered into Latin, February 1 we have appended to the Martyrology." In which, at the same Kalends of February, he reports the following: "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias. These, citizens of Corinth, accused of the Christian religion, were killed by various means and now enjoy the heavenly reward. Victorinus, with his right eye plucked out and his hands and feet severed, was crushed in a marble mortar and rendered his soul to God. Victor, with his tongue cut out, underwent the same kind of punishment with unconquered strength of soul and migrated to heaven. Nicephorus was first so crushed on his feet that blood burst forth from his nostrils; then he was suspended by his hair, then finally crushed in a mortar with a pestle, and departed to the Lord. Claudius, with hands and feet severed, was cast into the fire. Diodorus was burned by fire; Serapion, suspended by his feet aloft, was punished by beheading; Papias, bound to a rock, was thrown into the sea. Thus all received the crown of a noble martyrdom." These things from the Greeks Galesini has; Canisius follows him in his German Martyrology, but with the same Acts condensed into a shorter epitome.
[7] Again the Greeks celebrate them in the Menaea on April 5, and on April 5 and indeed in the first place, and in the attached odes they express their contests throughout. They begin that day thus: "On the same month, the fifth day, of the holy Martyrs Claudius, Diodorus, Victor, Victorinus, Pappias, Nicephorus, and Serapion, who, as is said in the first ode, with eyes put out, and fingers crushed, and sides burned while suspended, with various eulogies collected from the odes and bones broken, were cut limb by limb with the sword or beheaded. Having trampled underfoot deceit, you did not deny the Savior of all, you did not foolishly sacrifice to idols, O great and glorious Martyrs." "Let us venerate, therefore," as is added in the same place, "together with Claudius, the glorious Nicephorus, the venerable Diodorus and Victor, Victorinus and Pappias and Serapion -- a sevenfold chorus, a most holy congregation and people of the Church, perfect from every part, cutting to pieces many thousands of thousands of demons with the sword of fortitude." And after many similar things are recited, which we omit for the sake of brevity, after the heading "You, O Lord, are my light," the following is added: "Accustomed to great scourges and wounds, Diodorus, you endured stakes and swords; with willing trial you bore the burning of coals. And you, Serapion, suspended in torments, remained with an unshaken mind; living among the cunning and crafty, you ended your life by the sword. O Pappias, you felt the hostile swords striking, and nailed as a Martyr, and drowned in the waters of the sea. Let Serapion and the divine Diodorus, Victorinus, Pappias, Nicephorus, Claudius, and Victor be praised with hymns, who most perfectly vanquished impostures and deceits." Then after the memories of various Martyrs are recited, the following is again related about these Saints: "You suffered, O glorious Victor, with your sides flayed and crushed in a mortar, and with your tongue cut out you died, singing: 'Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of glory.' By the fortitude of the divine Spirit, O Claudius, you bore having your shoulders and belly beaten with scourges, your cheeks struck, and with hands and feet severed you praise the Lord. O Nicephorus, truly a Martyr, you endured with great spirit also the destruction of your fingers, and steadfastly the crushing of your whole body; therefore you are adorned with the diadem of victory befitting your name... Today let us approach with great faith and proclaim blessed and fortunate the noble Victorinus, Claudius, and the divine Pappias, and Diodorus and Serapion, and the wise Victor and Nicephorus." Thus far the Menaea.
[8] The same seem to be treated on the same April 5 in the Anthologion of the Greeks in these words: St. Theodulus belongs to others "Of the Martyrs Claudius, Diodorus, Theodulus, and their companions." Hence Ferrari inscribed them thus in his general Catalogue: "Among the Greeks, of the holy Martyrs Claudius, Diodorus, Theodulus, and their companions." But Theodulus does not belong here; he suffered martyrdom with Agathopodes and is reported separately on the same April 5. The Menologion published by Canisius agrees with the Menaea in these words: "Of the holy Martyrs Claudius, Diodorus, Victor, Victorinus, Papius, Nicephorus, and Serapion." They are also reported in Cytheraeus, and the name is written "Pappius," which the translator of the Menologion derived from the nominative "Papius," as also Victor, Victorinus, etc., who suffered at Nicomedia although it is Pappias or Papias, as is more often read in the Menaea. Baronius introduces another scruple in his Notes at March 6, on which day Saints Victor and Victorinus, Claudian, and his wife Bassa are reported as having suffered various torments at Nicomedia and died in prison. Where Baronius adds: "The Greeks also treat of Victor and Victorinus on January 31, whom, however, they affirm to have suffered not at Nicomedia but at Corinth under the Emperor Decius; but perhaps those are different from these." Indeed, we judge them to be plainly different, since those are only three with Bassa, wife of Claudian, and are consistently reported by Martyrologists as having died in prison at Nicomedia.
[9] Another question remains among these seven: how they are proved to be the same, since a difference of place, time, and names is found. For those who are called Claudian and Dioscorus by the Latins are called by the Greeks Claudius, with the name contracted, and Diodorus, Names of the Martyrs variously written with the letter d written in place of sc. But by such a trifling difference among the same Greeks, the same Martyr is sometimes called Serapion, sometimes Serapinus, and Papias and Pappias; and Nicephorus, used by the same Greeks, agrees with the Roman Martyrology, while other Latins generally have Nicophorus or Nicoforus. But of the time or place in which they suffered, no mention is made on April 5, the day on which they are chiefly venerated among the Greeks. At the Kalends of February, in the eulogy rendered into Latin by Galesini, they are called citizens of Corinth, Were they citizens of Corinth, first captured there and in the Menaea at January 31, "Martyrs of Corinth, brought before Tertius the Proconsul, who was administering Greece with consular authority at Corinth." But they are said to have been "sent forth from Corinth." These events perhaps occurred under Decius, when they went as exiles to Egypt, who suffered as exiles in Egypt? and surviving there until the times of Numerian, at last they perished in a glorious contest as Martyrs. Numerian was succeeded by Diocletian, under whom the greatest persecution against Christians arose, which is counted as the tenth, and under this number is occasionally erroneously called the Decian persecution. That which prevailed under Numerian, only in a few places on account of the old edicts formerly issued by Decius, could also have been considered the same. There is also some difference in the torments. If ever the Acts are unearthed, everything will be clear. Concerning Saints Papias, Diodorus, Claudian, and Corona, who suffered in Pamphylia under Decius, we shall treat on the following day, February 26.