African Martyrs Victor

CONCERNING THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS VICTOR, PUBLIUS, SATURNINUS, AND POLYCARPUS.

Victor, Martyr in Africa (S.) Publius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Polycarpus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

[1] Here too there is darkness, which it is not safe enough to explain with words, lest we seem to doubt every single detail. What if Victor and Saturninus are the Alexandrians? Publius is associated in Bede with Tharsicius, Zoticus, and Ammonius; but those suffered at Alexandria; The memory of these saints is obscure; therefore did he also? Or rather, as happens, were they rashly joined together without any distinction expressed in the MSS.? And Polycarpus, finally—but the great Bishop of Smyrna by that name is recorded on 1 February in the MS. of S. Jerome: was he perhaps transcribed from some similar exemplar to this day?

[2] We shall give the words of the Martyrologies and ask the learned reader, if he discovers something more certain, to communicate it to us. Rabanus and the MS. of S. Maximin: "In Africa, of Victor, Publius, names from MSS. Saturninus." The MS. of S. Martin at Tournai: "In Africa, the natalis of SS. Victor and Publius." The MS. of Laetium adds: "and Polycarpus." The MS. of S. Jerome: "In Africa, of Victor, Publius, Saturninus, and Polycarpus." Notker has the same. The Carthusians of Cologne cited above record Publius, with no place assigned.

CONCERNING TRYPHENA THE MARTYR, AT CYZICUS IN THE HELLESPONT.

Tryphena, Martyr at Cyzicus (S.)

[1] At Cyzicus, once a famous city, Tryphena exhibited noble contests pleasing to the Saints of heaven, having been thrown to the wild beasts. Her feast day is recorded in the Menologium of the Greeks published by Henry Canisius, The feast of S. Tryphena, unless there is an error in the number, on 30 January in these words: "On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Tryphena from the city of Cyzicus in the Hellespont." What do those words, "the holy Martyrs," signify? Were there several companions in the contest who were omitted? The Menaea commemorate Tryphena alone, but on the 31st day. Concerning her, also on 31 January, the Roman Martyrology: "At Cyzicus in the Hellespont, of S. Tryphena the Martyr, who, having overcome very many torments, was at last killed by a bull and won the palm of martyrdom." Galesinius narrates those torments of Tryphena (for so he writes, although the Greek form is Τρύφαινα), and from him Canisius; but the Menaea more fully, which we here present.

ACTS FROM THE MENAEA.

Tryphena, Martyr at Cyzicus (S.)

The bull, O Tryphena, feeds delicately upon your flesh, And sends you to pure delights.

[1] She was a native of Cyzicus, a city situated on the Hellespont, her father being the Senator Anastasius, her mother Socratia, a Christian. homeland, She came to martyrdom not led by others but voluntarily offered herself to the contest. For when she mocked the shameful rites of the pagans, parents, by which the foolish were accustomed to venerate their gods, and exhorted them to desist from their most vain superstition, and prayed to God for their conversion, martyrdom, at the command of Caesarius the Prefect she was thrown into a burning furnace. But being rescued from there in a wonderful manner, she was hung up on high, and then thrown down and received upon nails fixed in the ground and pierced through. Then she was thrown to the wild beasts; but since they did not touch her at all, a bull at last attacked her, tore her with its horns, and struck her down.

[2] It is reported that at the place where her blood was shed, a spring of the clearest water burst forth, a spring by which, either drunk or sprinkled, both women and beasts, when they have given birth, if their milk has perhaps failed, find their breasts overflowing with abundance of milk.