ON SS. THE ALEXANDRIAN MARTYRS
PARMENIUS, HERACLIUS, HELIAS, APOLLONIUS, EUDOMIUS, ANOVIUS, PUBLIUS, WITH EIGHTEEN OTHERS.
From the Hieronymian Martyrologies.
CommentaryParmenius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Heraclius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Helias, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Apollonius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Eudomius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Anovius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Publius, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Eighteen other Martyrs at Alexandria
J. B. S.
However confused and jumbled the little entries of the Hieronymian Martyrologies are on this day, by opposing and comparing the several with one another, it seems most probable that this can be drawn out: that seven Martyrs, by their own proper names, however dislocated, are attributed to Alexandria, with eighteen Anonymous ones. The number of seven the Lucca codex of Florentini fills out: At Alexandria, of Parthenus, Eraclus, Codomanus, Helas, Apollonius, Anovus, Publus, with eighteen others. Likewise the Corbie: At Alexandria, of Parthenius, Eraclius, Eudomonus, Heleus, Apollonia, Novus, Publius, with nineteen others. In appearance the most ancient Epternach codex differs, in a manner dividing the class, and adding to the seven others an eighth, under the name of Rodus, unknown to all the others, whom therefore we thought should be excluded, whether it be a man's proper name, or a city's, as Florentini asks. Thus has the said codex: At Alexandria, of Parmenus, Eraclus, Helias, Apollonus, Rodus, and of eighteen others, of Eudomus, Anonus, Puplus. In the scruples of letters, or their modest diversity, we shall not labor vehemently. We think Parthenus was written for Parmenus, Eraclus for Eraclius; so determine of Codomanus, Helas, Heleus, Apollonia, Anonus, Puplus, which seem manifestly enough corrupt. Purer for the most part is the reading of the most ancient codex.
[2] Of the same Martyrs treat some briefer Hieronymian codices, both those published by us in volume 7 of June, and those which very lately appeared in the Benedictine collection of Analecta, volume 3, with this diversity, however, that in all the announcement is contracted to three or four Martyrs, in some to only two. The Rheinau and the Reichenau name Parmenius, Eraclius, Apollonius, and Publius. The Augsburg, for Parmenius, reads Parthenius, as also the codex of the Queen of Sweden (from which Eraclius is absent), the Labbean of Artemus. The Auxerre of St. Germanus also excluded Eraclius, to substitute Anovus. The two additions of Bede, if joined, will supply nearly the entire text. The first reads: At Alexandria, of Parthemius, Eraclius, Publius. The other: At Alexandria, the birthday of the holy Apollonius, Heleus, and Parmenius. But indeed it is plain enough that all these are contracted at the discretion of the copyists. The text of Rabanus is not much fuller: At Alexandria, the birthday of Parmenus, Eraclius, Helias, Apollonius, Anovus, and of eighteen others. For the rest, both he and the purer codices confirm our reading in Parmenius and Anovus. Notker, who himself too always plucks some things from the Hieronymian, here dissents from the rest, both in the names which he expresses, and in the number of the Anonymous: for he has, of Heraclius, Helius, Apollonius, Publius, with twenty others. Not ineptly wrote he who added to the Rosweyde codex of Usuard: At Alexandria, of Publius the martyr, with twenty-four others; for this is the just number of our class, thus far handled, examined, and composed.