ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF SMYRNA: VITALIS, REVOCATUS, FORTUNATUS, FIRMUS OR FIRMINUS, POSSESSOR, JANUARIUS, SATURNINUS.
CommentaryVitalis, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Firmus or Firminus, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Fortunatus, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Januarius, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Possessor, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Revocatus, Martyr at Smyrna (St.) Saturninus, Martyr at Smyrna (St.)
From various sources.
[1] Of these, three -- Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus -- are recorded in most of the Martyrs' registers. The Parisian edition of Usuard from 1536, the Carthusians of Cologne, and Molanus state: "At Smyrna, of Saints Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus." Bellinus, Maurolycus, the manuscript of St. Lambert at Liege, and other manuscripts agree, in which they are also called Martyrs, as also in the Roman Martyrology: "At Smyrna, of the holy Martyrs Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus." The manuscript of St. Riquier: "In Asia, at Smyrna, of Saints Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus." The German Martyrology calls these three Levites; Ghinius calls them Deacons -- which several manuscripts of Usuard's Martyrologies, augmented for use by various Belgian churches, as well as the Lubeck edition of 1475, attribute to Fortunatus alone. The manuscript Florarium of the Saints: "At Smyrna, the birthday of Saints Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus the Deacon"; the word "Martyrs" is added in the ancient Cologne Martyrology. Galesini says the first was a Bishop, the others Deacons, following a manuscript Martyrology: "At Smyrna, of the holy Martyrs Vitalis the Bishop, Revocatus and Fortunatus the Deacons." Wandelbert also writes of them: "On the fifth, Vitalis, Fortunatus, and Revocatus."
[2] Concerning the others, it is doubtful whether they died at Smyrna or in Africa, unless perhaps there is an error in Usuard, who writes: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Revolutus and Firminus, with three others." St. Firminus is joined to the African Martyrs listed above in the manuscript Martyrology of Liessies, where the one called Revolutus by Usuard is named Revocatus. The rest are named in the most ancient manuscript of St. Jerome, and indeed at Smyrna with others: "At Smyrna, of Revocatus, Firmus, Possessor, Januarius, Saturninus." The manuscript of St. Martin at Tournai: "At Smyrna, of Revocatus, Firminus, Saturninus." We retain Revocatus alone, who is joined to Vitalis and Fortunatus in the first group, and to Firmus or Firminus, Possessor, Januarius, and Saturninus in the second group. The rest is unknown to us, since we find no Acts anywhere.
[3] One may however ask whether Vitalis and Fortunatus are not the same whom the manuscript Martyrologies of St. Jerome, Rhinow, St. Maximin, and Rabanus number among the African Martyrs in the preceding entry, and whether for that reason they are omitted here in the manuscript of St. Jerome. The Roman Martyrology recognizes two persons named Vitalis: an African and one from Smyrna. Two persons named Fortunatus and Saturninus are also established in the manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome. In the Milanese Calendar, Saints Vitalis and Saturninus are venerated as Martyrs. But whether they are from Smyrna, or Africa, or elsewhere, is unclear. Revocatus, Firmus, and Possessor with two companions are listed again on January 10 in the Martyrology of St. Jerome; whether they are the same as these or different, who can judge from names alone? The manuscript of Rhinow on that same tenth day reads: "At Sirmium, of Revocatus. In Africa, of Firmus." What is that "Sirmium"? Could it mean Smyrna, or Sirmium?