ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS EPICTETUS, RUPPUS, AND PUBLIANUS.
CommentaryEpictetus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Ruppus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Publianus, Martyr in Africa (St.)
From various sources.
We have recorded on January 9 that Epictetus was crowned with martyrdom in Africa with many others: another is presented today by the manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome, in these words: In Africa, of Epictitus, Ruppus, Puplicanus. He is here called Publianus, or Puplianus, in the manuscript from the Irish convent of Dungal, in which these and others, but in an altogether confused manner, are thus listed: On the 9th before the Kalends, of Panes, Babylas the Bishop and three little boys, Mardonius, Eustasius, Hermes, and twenty-two others. Mussurus, Eugenius, Metellus, Epictitus, Rupus, Mema, Puplianus, Fustacius, Vincentia, Galaeus, Datus, Maximus, Saturninus, Marinus, Agnitus, Saturus, Gaudianus, Felicissimus, Celianus. We have said that most of these seem to belong to the 21st day. Concerning the rest, we treat here separately. Ruppus, or Rupus, is perhaps Rufus, or Ruffus? For Epictitus we have made Epictetus, according to the now customary practice of rendering the Greek eta as long e. That it was, however, rendered long ago by i, with the sound by which it was pronounced in Greek, can be proved by many examples: for we say Paraclitus, Agapitus, Kyrie eleison, which are written in Greek with eta: parakletos, Agapetos, Kyrie eleeson. But koimeterion is variously written coemeterium, coemiterium, coemitirion, cimitirion, and not incorrectly. Thus Epiktetos (that is, acquired, adventitious) may be rendered in Latin as Epictetus or Epictitus.
ON ST. GALAEUS, MARTYR AT CARTHAGE IN AFRICA.
CommentaryGalaeus, Martyr at Carthage (St.)
We have nowhere found the name of St. Galaeus in the Martyrologies except in two most ancient ones, of which one bears the name of St. Jerome, and is so cited by us, and the other was brought from Ireland, from the convent of Dungal: the words of the latter we have given above. The former reads: At Carthage, of Galaeus. It is the African Carthage, if nothing is added to distinguish it.