Paul

ON SS. PAUL, CYRIACUS, PAULA, FELICIANA, THOMAS, FELIX, EMILIUS

MARTYRS AT TOMI IN SCYTHIA.

From the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and others.

Paul, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Cyriacus, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Paula, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Feliciana, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Thomas, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Felix, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

Emilius, Martyr at Tomi in Scythia (S.)

BY G. H.

Tomi, the metropolis of Scythia in lower Moesia and the region of Bulgaria, on the shore of the Pontus Euxinus, famous for the exile of the Poet Ovid, formerly had various Martyrs; of whom on this day in the first place in the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology are recorded on the following XII Kalends of July: In the city of Tomi, of Paul, Cyriacus, Paula, Feliciana, Thomas, Felix, Emilius. In the Epternach copy "palestra" is wanting, but is present in three other copies: and in the Corbey one is written "Feliciani." But in others is read "Felicianae." About these Notker with the Brussels Ms. has these things: In the city of Tomi, of Paul, Cyriacus, Paula, Feliciana, Felix, Aemilius, where Thomas is omitted. The old Ms. of the Queen of Sweden: In the city Tomi of Paul, Cyriacus and five others; who are all expressed by their names. Six of them are named in the Mss. Augsburg of S. Udalric and the Parisian of Labbe in this way: In the city of Tomi, of Paul, Cyriacus, Felicianus, Thomas, Felix, Emelius, or Aemilius. And only five are in the Rheinau Ms.: In Tomi of Paul and Cyriacus, of Felix and Thomas, of Emilius: the same also are indicated in the Barberini Ms.: In the city of Tomi the birthday of the Holy Paul, Cyriacus, Feliciana, Felix, Emilius. With Emilius omitted, the rest are produced in the Mss. of Prague and of Trier of S. Paulinus, and in the Auctarium of Grevenus on Usuardus. The Mss. of S. Cyriacus, of Monte Cassino and of Altempsianum, of the same four sign thus: In the city of Tomi of Paul, Cyriacus, Paula, Felicia, in place of Felix or Feliciana. Usuardus chooses only the first two: In the city of Tomi of SS. Paul and Cyriacus: which more recent ones generally followed with today's Roman Martyrology. On the day XVIII of June is celebrated the memory of Thomas, Paul, and Cyriacus: who, whether they should rightly be separated from these Saints, we have proposed to be considered in the same place. Peter de Natalibus, book 11 chapter 176, abounds in his own sense, writing thus: Paulinus, Cyprianus, Felix and Feliciana, Virgins and Martyrs, are crowned with martyrdom in the city Tomi on XII Kalends of July. In a similar way in the Florentine Mss. of the Grand Duke and Senator Strozzi these things are read: In the city Tomi of SS. Paulinus and Cyprian, Felix and Felicianus, with many others. We retain Paul and Cyriacus with the older ones. And if Feliciana was a Virgin, she will have two crowns: we, in the silence of the ancients, defer to ascribe to her that Aureola.