Acta Sanctorum

Euphrasius

14 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
St. Euphrasius, a bishop celebrated on January 14, is of uncertain identity. The commentary considers several candidates: a Bishop of Sufes martyred under the Vandals, a Bishop of Thena known from Cyprian's correspondence, the apostle of Illiturgis in Spain, and a 6th-century Bishop of Clermont praised by Gregory of Tours.

ON ST. EUPHRASIUS, BISHOP

Commentary

Euphrasius, Bishop (S.)

From Various Sources.

[1] The Bishop Euphrasius is celebrated on the 19th of the Kalends of February in the Roman Martyrology, St. Jerome's, Usuard's (though absent from the two oldest manuscripts of the monastery of St. Germain in Paris), Bellinus's, Maurolycus's, Galesinius's, and others, in nearly these words: The feast of St. Euphrasius. "On the same day, St. Euphrasius, Bishop." Molanus in his first edition of the Additions to Usuard, the Carthusians of Cologne, and Canisius in the German Martyrology call him Euphrosius; Felicius calls him Euphragius and, together with Maurolycus, makes him a Martyr. Very many join to him Clerus the Deacon and Martyr, of whom we shall treat presently.

[2] The ancients are silent about the place where St. Euphrasius flourished. Galesinius writes that he suffered martyrdom in Africa: "In Africa, the holy Martyrs Euphrasius the Bishop, Cyriacus the Deacon, and their companions, Was he the Bishop of Sufes? who, tortured with most terrible punishments by the Vandals for the defense of the Catholic faith, were crowned with a noble martyrdom." In his Notes he advises that Eustratius should be read for Euphrasius, and that this is that Bishop of Sufes in the province of Byzacena, who is also called Eustachius by some, and is honored on November 28, having been punished with exile in the times of Geiseric.

[3] Baronius in the Roman Martyrology writes: "In Africa, St. Euphrasius, Bishop"; and in his Notes suspects him to be Eucrathius, to whom Cyprian's letter 61 is addressed, Or of Thena? who is also found to have been present at the Council of Carthage celebrated under the same Cyprian. He is the twenty-ninth among those who are recorded as having subscribed to that Council: "Euchratius of Thena," which was a maritime city in the province of Byzacena, near the Lesser Syrtis, called Theainai (Greek: Theainai) by Ptolemy, and Thaena by others. Moreover, Pamelius contends from manuscripts that this bishop of Thena should be written "Euchratium"; to others he is Eucharistius, Eucharitius, or Eugratius. There is nothing to persuade us that he is honored on this day.

[4] Francis Bivarius, in his Commentary on the Chronicle of Dexter, year 54, no. 3, records that St. Euphrasius, a disciple of the Apostles, who is celebrated with other Bishops, the Apostles of Spain, Or rather of Illiturgis? on May 15 in the Roman Martyrology, was crowned with martyrdom on this day at Illiturgis, which is now a village barely a league distant from Andujar (or Anduxar), a city situated on the Baetis above Cordoba; and this village is called Anduxar el viejo, as the distinguished Ludovicus Nonius attests in his Hispania, chapter 21. After the Moors occupied Spain, Bivarius writes that the relics of St. Euphrasius were transported to Gallaecia, to a place called Valdeomao, where now stands the Priory of St. Julian de Samos: a part of them was given in the year 1596, at the request of Philip II, to the monastery of St. Lawrence in the Escorial, and a part to the city of Andujar, and this is inscribed on the stone that covers the tomb of the holy Bishop. Moreover, because the same Bivarius in his Calendar, and Ferrarius in the general catalogue of Saints, attest that St. Euphrasius is honored on May 18, we shall treat of him there, whether he is the same person recorded on January 14 by various sources, or a different one.

[5] Another St. Euphrasius is mentioned by Jean Savaron in his Origins of Clermont. He was the thirteenth Bishop of Auvergne, Or of Clermont? whom Rosweyde believed to be celebrated on this day in the Martyrologies; we are not entirely certain of this. St. Gregory of Tours praises his hospitality, History of the Franks, book 2, chapter 36, and calls him a Saint, as also in book 3, chapter 2. Euphrasius subscribed to the first Council of Orleans in the year of Christ 511, and in his name Paulinus the Priest subscribed to the Council of Agde in 506. He lived four years after the death of Clovis, as St. Gregory of Tours attests; he therefore died at the beginning of the year 516, or near the end of the preceding year, in the twenty-fifth year of his episcopate. Two letters of Ruricius, Bishop of Limoges, to him survive, and one of his to Ruricius, in volume 5 of the Antiquae Lectiones of Henry Canisius. We are surprised that his name does not appear in the Gallican Martyrology.