Cresconius and Companions

15 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
Sts. Cresconius, Zeno, Menelaus, and companions are Egyptian martyrs known from the ancient Martyrologies of St. Jerome and the Irish manuscript. The brief commentary notes the textual variants and possible confusion with other martyrs named Thyrsus recorded elsewhere in January.

ON THE HOLY EGYPTIAN MARTYRS CRESCONIUS, ZENO, MENELAUS, AND COMPANIONS

Commentary

Cresconius, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Menelaus, Martyr in Egypt (St.) Other Martyrs in Egypt Zeno, Martyr in Egypt (St.)

The sacred calendars present to us many men named Menelaus and Zeno, but not together. With these is joined Cresconius, and others. Thus the most ancient manuscript of St. Jerome reads: "In Egypt: Crisco, Thyrsus, Laucus, Gaunitus, Zeno, Menelaus." The Irish manuscript of the Dungal Convent reads: "Cisconi, Thyrsij, Celaui, Lauci, ... nitij." The manuscripts of the monasteries of Laetium and St. Martin of Tournai: "On the same day in Egypt, the holy Martyrs Crisco and Thyrsus." But the Rhinow manuscript reads: "In Egypt: Cresconius, Geno." Another Thyrsus is mentioned, who seems to have suffered martyrdom at Alexandria on January 31, but with others. Thyrsus, Leucius, and Callinicus, whose Acts we shall give on January 28, are listed on other days of this month, for uncertain reasons, in various Martyrologies: therefore we have here omitted Thyrsus, Laucus, and Gaunitus, lest perhaps they be the same persons, although we are more inclined to think they are different.

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