Asyncritus and Companions

ON SS. ASYNCRITUS AND COMPANIONS

MARTYRS HONORED AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

On his Martyrdom, cultus, Relics.

Asyncritus, Martyr honored at Constantinople (S.)

Companions, Martyrs honored at Constantinople (SS.)

G. H.

[1] The very ancient Ms. Synaxarium of the Constantinopolitan Church, which we have said belongs to the College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, on this day XX of June twice proposes almost the same elogium, Sacred cultus at Constantinople. first concerning S. Asyncritus alone and in these words: Ἀθλησις τοῦ ἁγίου Ἱερομάρτυρος Ἀσυγκρίτου. Τελεῖταὶ δὲ ἡ ἀυτοῦ σύναξις ἐν τῷ μαρτυρίῳ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰσιδώρου, ἔνδον τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἁγίας Ἐιρήνης, τῆς πρὸς θάλασσαν. The contest of the holy Hieromartyr Asyncritus. His solemnity is celebrated in the martyrium or temple of S. Isidore within the Church of S. Irene toward the sea. Afterwards, the elogium of S. Methodius Bishop of Patara and the memory of S. Joseph the anchorite having been interposed, it again has these things: Ἄθλησις τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Ἀσυγκρίτου, καὶ τῷν σὺν αυτῷ. Τελεῖταὶ &c. The contest of the holy Martyr Asyncritus and his Companions. Their solemnity is celebrated &c. In which way also the Companions are joined in the Mss. Menaea of Milan of the Ambrosian Library, and in others kept at Dijon in the College of the Society of Jesus.

[2] In them are added these verses with an allusion to the name, which signifies "incomparable" in Greek.

Ἀσύγκριτον σφαγέντα Κυρίου πόθῳ, Ἀσύγκριτα στέφουσιν ἀξίως στέφη.

Asyncritus slain for love of his Lord, worthily they crown with crowns matched by none.

In both places the added title Ἱερομάρτυρος Hieromartyr signifies either a Bishop or a Presbyter, about which it could be more certainly defined by us if Acts were extant: now we suspend judgment, the more so because in the repeated memory of the same he is endowed with the simple title Μάρτυρος Martyr.

[3] We illustrated the Life of S. Isidore the Martyr on the island of Chios on May XV, in the church of S. Isidore the Martyr. and in the preface treated of his Relics translated to Constantinople, where at number 2 from the ancient Acts we produced these things: Marcian of divine memory, the holy and blessed Oeconomus and Presbyter, raised the venerable temple of S. Irene and S. Anastasia: and a response having been received from S. Isidore in dreams, he built a venerable edifice, in the name and to the glory of the holy and glorious Martyr of Christ Isidore near S. Irene which looks toward the sea; which also he gave together to the edifice of S. Irene, and there deposited a certain part of his holy Relics: as we said at greater length in the Acts of S. Marcian on January X. There can also be consulted the Christian Constantinople of Charles du Fresne du Cange, book 4 chapter 6 number 531, where he treats of the edifice of S. Isidore, and chapter 7 number 21, where he describes the temple of S. Irene.

[4] On another day also, namely April VIII, is venerated by the Greeks S. Asyncritus the Martyr, of whom the Apostle makes mention writing to the Romans, and whom they assert to have been of the Seventy disciples of Christ, and Bishop of Hyrcania, of whom we then treated: Whether another from him is the S. Asyncritus of April 8. but now, and especially on account of the title Ιερομάρτυρος, we suspect this to be the same one, who indeed in the month of April earned a cultus, in the place where he died, whether that be among the Hyrcanians, or wherever else (for little credit can be given to that fictitious enumeration of the Seventy Disciples, whose names are for the most part taken from the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of Paul, with most rash and at times ridiculous license), and who today also is venerated, on account of the Relics brought to Constantinople and placed in the aforesaid Confession of S. Isidore. Therefore I am inclined that what is said here, in the Supplement of April should be ordered to be transferred to April itself, lest names be multiplied gratuitously, for whose distinguishing so slight a reason appears, as is the diversity of day: although on the other part the similarity of name is a very weak foundation for asserting identity.