ON THE HOLY MARTYRS ASCLEPIAS THE WONDER-WORKER, THEOPHILUS, AND MENIGNUS.
From the Synaxarion of Sirmond, and the manuscript of Chiffletius.
CommentaryAsclepias the Wonder-worker, a Greek Martyr (S.)
Theophilus, a Greek Martyr (S.)
Menignus, a Greek Martyr (S.)
J. P.
These holy Martyrs I found noted in the Supplement to the Greek Menaea published in print, which consists of the Synaxarion of Sirmond and the manuscript of Chiffletius, placed not jointly, but separately. It seemed good to join them here under one title, On St. Asclepias, because they are both venerated on the same day, and are taken from the same supplement. St. Asclepias is there marked thus: Ἡ ἁγία Ἀσκληπιὰς, ἡ Θαυματουργὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ τελ᾽. "St. Asclepias the Wonder-worker consummated her course in peace." Concerning whom, what I may bring forth for the reader's instruction besides the two following little verses, I have nothing:
Ἀσκληπιὰς ἄμισθος ἀσκληπιάδης / Παύουσα προῖκα καὶ τετμημένη νόσους.
"Asclepias, an unpaid physician, made a healer, freely, though diminished in her head, while she puts diseases to flight." The allusion is taken from the consonance of the proper name of our Martyr Ἀσκληπιὰς, and the word Ἀσκληπιάδης, derived ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀσκληπιοῦ, which signifies Aesculapius, formerly a most famous physician. Whence Ἀσκληπιαδῶν παῖδες, "the children of the Asclepiads," are by the Greeks called physicians. And Ἀσκληπιάδαι are called οἱ τοῦ Ἀσκληπιοῦ ἐπίγονοι, those deriving their descent from Aesculapius. The memory of Asclepias is also found in the Menaeon of Chiffletius.
[2] The holy Champion of Christ, Theophilus, is announced in the said supplement in these words: on St. Theophilus τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ ἅγιος Ἱερομάρτυρ Θεόφιλος ξίφει τελ. "On the same day the holy hieromartyr Theophilus consummated his course by the sword." There follow these two little verses:
Ὁ Θεόφιλος ἐξαφαιρεῖται κάραν / Θεὸν φιλήσας καὶ πλέον ζωῆς φίλης.
"Theophilus has his head cut off by the cruel sword, loving God, even above his dear life." The allusion plainly appears in the name of our Martyr Θεόφιλος, that is, "loving God, a friend of God, or dear to God"; and in the participle φιλήσας, and the adjective φίλης, all which appeal to the same root φιλέω, "I love." This holy Martyr also has a place in the Menaeon of Chiffletius. Various men named Theophilus are venerated on various days, from whom this one of ours could easily by confusion be transferred hither; but since concerning that there is no certainty, we have judged he should here be recorded.
[3] on St. Menignus. The annual memory of St. Menignus the Martyr I find in the same place: τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ ὅσιος Μένιγνος ἐν εἰρήνῃ τελ. "On the same day IV July St. Menignus consummated his course in peace." With this elogium, comprising two little verses:
Μένιγνος ἐκπλεῖ τὸν θαλαττώδη βίον, / Εὑρὼν ἀρίστους τοὺς νέας κωπηλάτας.
"Menignus sails out of a life like the sea, having found excellent oarsmen for his ships." The memory of this Martyr is besides marked in the Menaeon of Chiffletius, where it is written Βένιγνος Benignus, and perhaps it ought so to be written.