ON THE HOLY ANONYMOUS MARTYRS,
A FATHER, A MOTHER, AND TWO SONS.
Their cult from two Greek manuscripts.
CommentaryAn anonymous father, among the Greeks (St.)
An anonymous mother, among the Greeks (St.)
Two anonymous sons, among the Greeks (SS.)
J. P.
The public cult of those anonymous Martyrs, rejected hither from among the Passed-over of yesterday, and otherwise unknown to us, rests upon our two Greek transcripts, namely the Chifflet and Mazarin Menaeon. Cult from the Chifflet and Mazarin Menaeon; the rest unknown to us. In the former copy indeed they are thus marked indeterminately and altogether obscurely: Πατὴρ, μήτηρ, καὶ δύο τέκνα. That is: A father, a mother, and two sons. But in the latter, with somewhat greater notice at least: Οἱ ἅγιοι μάρτυρες πατὴρ καὶ μήτηρ σὺν δυσὶ τέκνοις ἐν εἰρήνῃ τελ. That is: The holy martyrs, a father and a mother with two sons, are consummated in peace. With greater notice, I say, at least somewhat; as becomes clear from the following little verses, subjoined to the said announcement:
Πατὴρ ἐκαύσθη καὶ τεκοῦσα καὶ τέκνα, / Τὸ πατρομητρότεκνον ἀθλητῶν γένος. That is: Fire devours mother and father and sons, and a race of heroes like both father and mother.
The rest, which pertain to this holy family, are known to God, but unknown to us; and therefore it is not permitted to add more to these.