ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS AQUILINUS, GEMINUS, EUGENTUS, MARCIANUS, QUINCTUS, THEODOTUS, AND TRYPHON.
CommentaryAquilinus, Martyr in Africa (St.) — Eugentus, Martyr in Africa (St.) — Geminus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Marcianus, Martyr in Africa (St.) — Quinctus, Martyr in Africa (St.) — Theodotus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Tryphon, Martyr in Africa (St.)
[1] The Roman Martyrology records these holy champions: "Likewise in Africa, the most illustrious Martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus, Eugenius, Marcianus, Quinctus, Theodotus, and Tryphon." Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker, and the manuscript Florarium: "In Africa, the most illustrious Martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus, Eugentus, Marcianus, Quinctus, Theodotus, and Tryphon, whose acts are extant." Nearly all manuscript and printed copies of Usuard have this reading. The manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome: Birthday of these Saints, "The day before the Nones, in Africa: Aquilinus, Geminus, Eugentus, Marcianus, Quinctus, Theodotus, Tryphon." But the names are expressed differently by various authors; for Aquilinus is elsewhere called Aquilius; Geminus, in the manuscript of the Society of Jesus at Antwerp, is Germanus; Eugentus, in the Roman Martyrology and the Paris edition of Usuard from the year 1536, names, as well as in Bede and Bellinus, is Eugenius; in the manuscripts of Utrecht and of St. Martin at Tournai, and in Notker and Peter de Natalibus, Eugentius; in the Centula manuscript, Eugendus; by Wandelbert, who lists him alone, Augentus:
"Then on the day before the Nones the feast of Augentus returns."
Marcianus, in the Utrecht manuscript, is Martinianus; Theodotus, in the Antwerp manuscript of the Society of Jesus, is Theodocius; in Bellinus, Peter de Natalibus, and certain manuscripts, Theodorus; Tryphon, in Peter, is Tryphonius.
[2] Peter de Natalibus, Book 2, chapter 44, says they suffered in the Vandal persecution, and cites Ado, who does not say this. Peter is followed by Maurolycus, Galesinius, and the German Martyrology. age. To agree with these, they must produce the definite testimony of an ancient writer. The Cologne edition of Usuard from the year 1521 records a Martyr Tryphon on the 26th of January: whether this is the same one, or another, we prefer not to conjecture. The Greek Menaea have this: "On the same day, six holy Martyrs departed in peace." Our Raderus wonders whether these are not the same as those who suffered in Africa. Who can divine?