ON SS. THIRTY-EIGHT MARTYRS, AMONG THE GREEKS.
From the Dijon Manuscript Synaxary.
CommentaryThirty-eight Martyrs, among the Greeks (SS.)
G. H.
The memory of these Martyrs is contained in the Greek Manuscript Synaxary, which we found at Dijon with Pierre François Chifflet of our Society, and it is set forth for the second day of June thus: Οἱ ἅγιοι, Μάρτυρες λή, ἐν λούτρῳ βληθέντες, καὶ τῆς θύρας σφραγείσης, τελειοῦνται. "The holy thirty-eight Martyrs, cast into a bath, the doors being shut, end their lives." Then these verses are added:
Ματὴν ἀθληταῖς φράττεται λούτρου θύρα· Χριστὸς γὰρ ἐγγὺς ἐκβοῶν, ἐγώ θύρα
"In vain are the doors of the bath shut against the Athletes, While Christ stands near crying out: I am the door." Namely from John 10, verse 9. But where this was done, you will seek in vain.
ON THE MOTHER AND 3 CHILDREN.
From the same Manuscript Synaxary.
CommentaryThe Mother, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) The three children, Martyrs among the Greeks (SS.)
D. P.
In the already cited Greek Manuscript Synaxary of Dijon or of Chifflet she is celebrated: Ἡ ἁγία Μητὴρ, μετὰ τῶν τριῶν τεκνῶν αὐτῆς, and it is added, ξίφει τελειοῦται. "The holy Mother, with her three children, completes martyrdom by the sword": Then according to custom a Distich of this kind is subjoined:
Σὺν παιδίοις τμηθεῖσα Μάρτυς καλλίπαις, Ἰδοὺ βοᾶς, ἔγωγε, καὶ τὰ παιδία.
"The parent, struck by the sword together with her whole offspring, a Martyr blessed in her children; I am here, behold thou criest; both I myself and my children."
These, moreover, are the words of the Prophet Isaiah, speaking in the person of Christ concerning himself and his disciples, Chapter 8, verse 18, in which sense Paul cites the same to the Hebrews 2, verse 13, Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ παιδία, ἅ μοι ἔδωκε ὁ Θεός. "Behold I and the children, whom God has given me."