Cyria

CONCERNING SS. CYRIA, VALERIA, MARCIA,

MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN PALESTINE.

A notice from two manuscript Synaxaries.

Cyriaca, Martyr, at Caesarea in Palestine (S.)

Valeria, Martyr, at Caesarea in Palestine (S.)

Marcia, Martyr, at Caesarea in Palestine (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

That very ancient Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople, as it seems to us at least, Leading at the same time a hidden life in a certain little dwelling and likewise that one which, found by our Chifflet, is preserved at Dijon, after the aforepraised choir of holy women, partly Virgins, partly Matrons, but equally Martyrs, proceeds thus: Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων γυναικῶν, Κυρίας, Βαλλερίας (elsewhere Βερερίας) καὶ Μαρκίας. Αὗται ὑπῆρχον ἐκ πόλεως Καισαρείας τῆς Παλαιστίνης· διδαχθεῖσαι δὲ ἀπό τινος Χριστιανοῦ τὴν εὐσέβειαν, προσῆλθον τῷ Χριστῷ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ βαπτίσματι. Ἐσημειώθησαν ἐκ τότε οὖν, ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ καθήμεναι ἔν τινι οἰκήματι, ἐν ᾧ διῆγον ἐν εὐλαβείᾳ πολλῆ, νηστείᾳ καὶ προσευχῇ καὶ ἀγρυπνίᾳ προσκαρτεροῦσαι, καὶ τὸν Θεον ἐξιλεούμεναι, ὅπως ἡ τῶν εἰδώλων μὲν πλάνη τελείως ἀφανίσθη, ἀνακαλύψῃ δὲ τὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν

[On the same day, the memory of the holy Matron Martyrs, Cyria, Valeria (elsewhere Vereria) and Marcia. These were from the city of Caesarea of Palestine; and having been taught piety by a certain Christian, they came to Christ and to holy baptism. They were marked out from then on, therefore, sitting in quietude in a certain dwelling, in which they passed their time in much devotion, persevering in fasting and prayer and watching, and propitiating God, that the error of the idols might be completely abolished, and the things of the Christians be revealed]

[continued: that the brightness of Christianity might shine throughout the whole inhabited world. But even thus, though hidden, they were nonetheless betrayed to the Ruler of the region; and being brought before him, and not being persuaded to sacrifice to the idols, being subjected to dreadful tortures, in those very torments they were perfected.]

Which you may render thus into Latin:

[2] The Contest of the holy Martyrs Cyria, Valeria and Marcia. they are accused as Christians These were sprung from the city of Caesarea of Palestine, and having been taught by a certain Christian they came to Christ, and were initiated by holy baptism. And from that time, dwelling quietly and tranquilly in a certain dwelling, they persevered in much piety, in fasting, watching and prayer; and they besought God that the imposture of the idols might be fully extirpated, and they die amid torments. and that throughout the whole world the splendor of Christianity might shine forth. But thus hidden, they were nevertheless betrayed to the Governor of the region, and brought before him: and when they could not be persuaded to sacrifice to the idols, being subjected to grievous tortures, amid the very punishments they ended their lives.

[3] These things in the said manuscript Synaxary, which are had almost the same in the manuscript Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor, and in the Mazarinian manuscript: but everywhere on this sixth day of June; so that we cannot sufficiently wonder that Cardinal Sirletus transferred them, together with Zenais and her companions, to the preceding day, the 5th of June. From his Menology, cited in the Baronian Notes, wrongly referred together with Zenais to the 5th of June. the present Roman Martyrology has these things on the said 5th of June: At Caesarea in Palestine, the passion of the holy women Zenais, Cyria, Valeria, and Marcia: who through many torments, rejoicing, came to martyrdom. But we have already often noted that it were to be wished, either that Sirletus had compiled that Menology of his with greater accuracy and with a collation of more copies; or that Baronius had not believed everything to him alone, of which he had no notice from elsewhere. For thus either far fewer Saints would have been added to the old text of Usuard, which the Roman Church had hitherto used; or with the newly added ones fewer errors would have crept in, difficult to correct, except after, this work of ours being completed, the several items shall have been re-examined, and referred to their sources, and examined after our manner, as that most illustrious man Francesco Maria Florentini of Lucca thought.