Acta Sanctorum

Epictetus and Companions

9 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
A group of African martyrs -- Epictetus, Quinctus, Secundus, Jucundus, Saturninus, Vitalis, and others (up to eighteen names) -- are recorded in the Martyrology of St. Jerome and various other calendars. Their Acts have perished and nothing is established about them beyond their names.

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS EPICTETUS, QUINCTUS, SECUNDUS, JUCUNDUS, SATURNINUS, VITALIS, QUINCTUS, VINCENTIUS, FELICITAS, also QUINCTUS, FELIX, ARTAXES, FORTUNATUS, RUSTICUS, SILLUS, QUIETUS, PICTUS, and five others.

Commentary

Epictetus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Artaxes, Martyr in Africa (St.) Felicitas, Martyr in Africa (St.) Felix, Martyr in Africa (St.) Fortunatus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Jucundus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Pictus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Five other Martyrs in Africa Quietus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Quinctus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Rusticus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Secundus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Sillus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Vincentius, Martyr in Africa (St.) Vitalis, Martyr in Africa (St.)

[1] The Acts of these Holy Martyrs have perished; their names survive in the martyrologies. The most ancient manuscript of St. Jerome reads: "In Africa, of Epictetus, Quinctus, Secundus, Jucundus, Saturninus, Vitalis, Quinctus, Vincentius, and Felicitas; also of Quinctus, Felix, Artaxes, Fortunatus, Rusticus, Sillus, Quietus, and six others." We believe one of these six to be St. Pictus, who is recorded thus in the very ancient manuscript Calendar of the monastery of St. Maximin at Trier: "And of St. Pictus. And of St. Saturninus, in Africa." The manuscript of Rhinow reads: "In Africa, of Epictetus, Jucundus, Saturninus, Vitalis, Felix, Fortunatus." Rabanus and the manuscript of St. Maximin at Trier: "Birthday of Episticus, Jucundus, Secundus, Saturninus, Vitalis, Felix, Rusticus, Quinctus, and Artaxes (Rabanus in one word, 'Etartaxes'), Fortunatus." The manuscript Martyrology of Liessies: "In Africa, the birthday of the Saints Jucundus, Quintus, Firminus, Saturninus." But Firminus is joined to the Saints of Smyrna by others, as we shall say in the following entry. The manuscript Martyrology of Ado from the monastery of St. Lawrence at Liege: "In Africa, of Epictetus, Jucundus. Also ... and of St. Saturninus." The manuscript Florarium: "In Africa, of Epictetus and Jucundus. Also of St. Saturninus." The manuscript of St. Martin at Tournai: "In Africa, the birthday of Epictetus, Jucundus, Quinctus." The Carthusians of Cologne in the Additions to Usuard: "In Africa, of Jucundus, Quintus, Saturus (perhaps Saturninus), Martyrs." Galesini: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Epithetus (in the Notes he calls him Epitectus) and Saturnius"; he cites a manuscript codex. Some of these are also commemorated in the most ancient Irish Martyrology of the convent of Dungal.

[2] The Roman Martyrology: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Epictetus, Jucundus, Secundus, Vitalis, Felix, and seven others." "There was," says Baronius in the Notes to the Roman Martyrology, "an Epictetus, Bishop of Assuras in Africa, to whom the extant Epistle 64 of St. Cyprian is addressed. He suffered with his companions under the Emperor Decius." So he writes. Pamelius conjectures that the one to whom Cyprian writes was Bishop of Assuras; Cyprian simply calls him "brother." Nor is there any proof that this Epictetus is the same one who is venerated on this day.