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Felix and Januarius

7 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
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Commentary on the martyrs Felix and Januarius, celebrated at Heraclea. The Bollandists debate which Heraclea is meant -- Lucania, Spain, or elsewhere -- and distinguish them from similarly named martyrs venerated on other days.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS FELIX AND JANUARIUS

Commentary

Felix, Martyr at Heraclea (St.) Januarius, Martyr at Heraclea (St.)

The Roman Martyrology: "In the city of Heraclea, the holy Martyrs Felix and Januarius." Usuard, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinius, the MS. Florarium, the German Martyrology, many MSS., and particularly two very ancient ones of St. Jerome agree. I can pronounce nothing certain about them, except that I do not agree with Bivarius, who in his commentary on Dexter's Chronicle at the year 296, number 4, considers them to be those whom the Greeks record on April 16 with Fortunatus and Septimius, and would have them to have suffered at Heraclea, a city of Spain. For those who are celebrated there by the Greeks are venerated on October 24 at Venosa in Apulia, although the place of martyrdom is not sufficiently established. They do not, however, appear to have been killed at Heraclea near the Straits of Cadiz, nor is there anything in the Acts from which this could be conjectured. Whether Felix the Bishop and Januarius the Priest were once venerated at Heraclea, which was a city of Lucania, perhaps having been translated there, I cannot say. It is more probable that they are different persons from these, who suffered in some other Heraclea. We shall agree with Bivarius regarding the Spanish Heraclea when he has produced a certain argument. The MS. Martyrology of St. Jerome records again (concerning the same persons, as I myself judge) on February 14: "At Heraclea, the birthday of Felix, Januarius."

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