ON ST. NICETAS OR NICEAS
BISHOP OF ROMATIANA IN DACIA
AND ANOTHER OF AQUILEIA IN ITALY.
A Collection on the cult, acts, age.
5TH CENTURY.
PrefaceNicetas or Niceas, Bishop of the Church of Romatiana (St.)
Nicetas or Niceas, Bishop of Aquileia in Italy (St.)
G. H.
AUTHOR D. P.
In the sacred Geography of Charles of St. Paul of Fouilloy, page 210, is indicated the Province of Sardica, in each Dacia and Upper Moesia; and after the named Sardica the metropolis, An Episcopal See in Dacia. next is subjoined "Remesiana to Hierocles." A Manuscript adds "in Dacia." Diogenianus Bishop of Remesiana was present at the Council of Chalcedon, where in the first Action, in the Labbe edition, column 118, among the other Bishops' names is had, "Of Diogenianus of Remesiana of Dacia." By the same Charles in an old notice, at the end of the said Geography, in the Province of Mediterranean Dacia, among other Episcopal cities is named on page 25 "Remesiana." Situated this was between the said Sardica and Naissus, which in the Peutinger Table "Romesiana" is called. But in the Martyrologies "Romatiana, Rometiana and Romaciana" it is called. These things seem able to be taken about the arena ascribed to the Saint: now about the name of him we inquire. We had here at Antwerp the library of the Queen of Sweden, The name St. Nicetas or Niceas, in which a remarkable codex of the Martyrology of Ado, in the century of Christ twelfth written, to this 22nd of June offered these: "On the same day the deposition of Blessed Nicetas, of the city of Romantiana the Bishop." But in place of Nicetas, in the printed Ado and in Usuard and the supposititious Bede is expressed the name Niceas the single letter being omitted by carelessness perhaps of the copyists: this however have followed commonly the more recent. But we judge to be preferred the reading of the manuscript of Ado, about whom it was treated on the 15th of February in our Preface to the Life of SS. Faustinus and Jovita number 14 and 15. Peter de Natalibus, three hundred and more years ago, in book 5 chapter 140, about this Saint inserted such a eulogy.
[2] "Niceas, Bishop of the city of Romatiana, with sanctity and honesty of morals composed, Eulogy from Peter de Natalibus and in doctrine lofty and in eloquence renowned appeared. Who six, coming to baptism, with fitting instructions informing, little books published. Of which the first contains what they ought to do, who to the grace of baptism to come desire. The second on the errors of Heathenism. The third on the faith of the one Majesty. The fourth against Genealogy. The fifth on the Symbol, the sixth on the victim of the Paschal Lamb. To a fallen also Virgin a little book of correction, with all praises remarkable, Nicetas in Gennadius he sent. But he rested in the Lord on the 10th day before the Kalends of July." These things Gennadius on the illustrious, namely Writers Ecclesiastical, chapter 22. Peter de Natalibus follow Maurolyco, Felici, Galesini, Canisius, and others. Lucas Holstenius in his Animadversions to this Roman Martyrology day, indicates, that that admirable codex of Gennadius, at St. Andrew of the Valley, "Nicetas," not "Niceas" writes, as above we have noted in the very ancient manuscript of Ado of the Queen of Sweden also "Nicetas" to be had; and through an error of copyists the letter omitted "Niceas" to be written. inscribed variously in the most ancient Martyrologies with St. Paulinus, On the contrary Baronius in the Notes of the Martyrology to this 22nd of June, indicates somewhere "Nicetas" for "Niceas" to be read: of the Hieronymian Martyrology the copies all, and the rest with them above in St. Paulinus cited old manuscripts, after him immediately subjoin, "And elsewhere the deposition of holy memory of Nicetus the Bishop," as the Epternach and Corbie; the Lucca indeed "of Niceus," the Blume and Gellone "of Nica," the Augsburg finally "of Nicetus the Confessor," with no other word premised.
[3] This most constant and most ancient conjunction of each Saint from years more than a thousand thus together ascribed to the Hieronymian Martyrology, of all the most ancient, and by this remarkably praised; not to mention Ado, Usuard, and the more recent certain ones, to have been made seems either because on the same day both, though not in the same year, they died; or rather because the true of Nicetas's Feast was unknown, and so unanimous friends it pleased by a commemoration to unite. Ado, Usuard and others more expressly "Nicetas in Dacia" write, thinking without doubt that, which also thought Holstenius, to be this Nicetas that most renowned guest of St. Paulinus, but to the Roman also ascribed on the 7th of January, as another. whom Baronius on the 7th of January placed … whom however no Martyrology published or manuscript in that place acknowledges: and therefore what there he noted, he hither to be transferred ought. These things Holstenius. We after our custom, on account of the authority of the Roman Martyrology, about St. Nicetas Bishop of the Dacians, on the same 7th of January treated, and his Acts through three chapters deduced, and especially from St. Paulinus's writings excerpted illustrated; and them with this wish we concluded: "Would that the things by him excellently done to writing had been committed! He visits Paulinus in the year 398 An illustrious without doubt of an Apostolic herald example in them we would have expressed." Pierre François Chifflet our colleague, several times by us mentioned, a double of St. Nicetas's coming into the city of Nola to St. Paulinus in part 2 chapter II thus assigns, that the former coming happened in the year 398, when the Life of St. Martin, by Severus written, he himself in letter X to Severus, asserts that he had revealed to the venerable Bishop and most learned Nicetas, who from Dacia, by the Romans deservedly to-be-admired had come. But the second of his coming is noted by Chifflet at the year 402. For Paulinus in Feast-poem IX thus the present Nicetas
addresses. and 402. "You have come at last, in the fourth year restored to me." But him, whom Gennadius and Peter de Natalibus above relate, not another to be from Paulinus's friend with Holstenius we judge: because those little works by a most learned Pontiff, as by Paulinus he is called, plainly seem to have been composed. But each of Nicetas's passage through the city of Nola happened at the said years' beginning, at the feast day of St. Felix of Nola, the 14th of January. How long afterward he lived, not yet have we been able to find.
[4] Cardinal Baronius in the Notes to this 22nd of June, letter f, confesses that he long and much, what was that Episcopal city Romatiana inquiring, labored; Baronius here made the one related a Bishop of Aquileia, and at last (unless I am mistaken), he says, the matter to myself I seem to have attained. I judge that to be Aquileia; and Niceas or Nicetas to be of the same city the Bishop, to whom exists St. Leo the Pope's letter 79. There succeeded this one St. Chromatius, of whom frequently mentions St. Jerome, in whose time Niceas himself was of the same Church a Subdeacon, to whom exists his letter 42 with this inscription "of Jerome to Niceas Subdeacon of Aquileia." But these Nicetases or Niceases, by St. Leo and by St. Jerome mentioned, seem both between themselves to be distinguished, and from St. Nicetas Bishop of Dacia (which hither pertains) plainly diverse to be reckoned, which most widely deduces Pasquier Quesnel, in his observations to the letter of St. Leo the hundred twenty-ninth; and against Baronius denies that the Aquileian city was called by the Historians Rome, much less Romatiana. We found at Rome in the Vallicellan Library of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory, in a Codex marked with the letter N, an old Calendar of Aquileia, which we described: where no anywhere mention is made of St. Nicetas or Niceas; and to this 22nd of June is celebrated the memory of Paul, I believe Paulinus the Bishop, of Arcatius and his companions; and the days 21st and 23rd are vacant, to which it could have been referred; and therefore now there he is worshipped under a double rite if by the said Saints that 22nd had been occupied. Afterward too we obtained one printed for the year 1674 the Calendar of the Metropolitan Church of Aquileia, in which to this 22nd of June is prescribed the Office of Niceas Patriarch of Aquileia under a rite double, and the lessons of the second and third Nocturn are taken from the Common. We obtained at Rome in the said Vallicellan Library the fourth Lesson and fifth, to be recited on the feast of St. Niceas Bishop of Aquileia, which we add, as there we described from the Collection of Augustin Mann, by whom were published selected Histories of memorable Things. And in this manner without prejudice to the Church Metropolitan of Aquileia all things we leave to a further examination of learned men. But there are the said Lessons of this kind.
[5] "Niceas Bishop of Aquileia, in those times of that Church the helm held, in which through his highest sanctity the of the Christian faith foundations at Aquileia the divine clemency altogether to be destroyed did not permit. L. IV For so had grown of that people the sins, that the wrath of God, with 2 proper Lessons on the Life, through the prayers, fasts, vigils, and tears of the holy man Niceas longer retarded, more to be averted by no means could. But while the blessed Bishop with assiduous preaching the depraved of his flock morals to amend strives, and from God the father of mercies to obtain tries for his people the spirit of true wisdom and understanding; Attila bursting into Italy, who the scourge of God was called, the of the Huns King with an army formidable, admonished by God of the overthrow of that city, the Saints' Relics, the sacred Virgins, widows, orphans, and Christ's poor, to the Grado nearest island, by the nature of the place against the barbarians' storms quite fortified, translated: and his flock thus preserved from the fury of the enemies, with the zeal of exceptional charity marvelously there nourished. But the city Aquileia in the same year in which Niceas to the Grado island had set out, Attila most savagely devastated.
[6] From a manuscript To this moreover the good Pastor with the preserved flock returning, six years having elapsed, although he was by that city's and Church's incredible slaughter struck, those however who survived to be sustained, both in work and in spirit never was lacking, and with all his strength took care, through assiduous preachings and exhortations, that those peoples by so great a calamity excited, to God at last might return. L. V. Wherefore very many things most holily he decreed, by which of the Christian discipline the corrupt morals in great part he restored: in which matter how much blazed up Niceas's pastoral zeal, we gather from the letters of holy Leo the Pope, who to his consultations replied. Thus the glorious Bishop, amid the assiduous cares of the spiritual restoration of his Church, not a breadth even of a nail from the of his past life severe discipline, and of his body chastisement never departing, by miracles most renowned, at Aquileia migrated to the Lord in the year of Christ four hundred fifty- eighth, on the tenth day before the Kalends of July on which also day his memory in the Roman Martyrology is celebrated."
CRITICAL DISSERTATION
Whether it is probable, that Aquileia in the Martyrologies is called the city Romatiana, and that its Bishop was the guest of St. Paulinus?
Nicetas or Niceas, Bishop of the Church of Romatiana (St.)
Nicetas or Niceas, Bishop of Aquileia in Italy (St.)
AUTHOR D. P.
[7] When the Roman Martyrology in the Lessons to be cited you see, Reader; without doubt you recognize, Since no Roman Martyrology that they are not the very ones older than the Gregorian that reformation, or at least the 15th century, when by the care of Bellinus of Padua, published at Venice and further at Paris the Martyrologies of Usuard, began in the title to set forth, that they were ordered according to the custom of the Roman Court: in these moreover in the last place only is read, "Likewise the deposition of St. Niceas Bishop of Romaciana." Galesini then, when for the books by him published and to be published, in which it was said to be about to be a Martyrology about the of Saints Lives, in whose name at Milan and in its diocese either temples or altars are consecrated (which little work never afterward came forth) he had received from Gregory XIII a Privilege in the year 1574, that to no one of them within a decade of reprinting power there should be; he presumed a grander work to undertake, namely a most ample and universal Martyrology of the holy Roman church to the use accommodated, identifies Aquileia with the city Romatiana and to the same Gregory after four years to offer, the prefixed which I said Privilege as to it pertaining. It did not please the Romans the manner of such a thing to publish the Court unconsulted, and much less the work itself, by its prolixity grievous to be about to be to the Clergy, nor to one only man's judgment to be committed: but it seemed that a new Martyrology to be struck off to be entrusted to several learned men, who, it is plain, of Galesini's labor in many things used. Yet neither Galesini, nor they, another city than Romatiana named, nor from elsewhere than from the doctrine and holy morals the praise of the Bishop sought: but enough shows Baronius in the Notes, the first himself to be who thought that the Aquileian for the Romatianan could be taken.
[8] This his judgment having followed the people of Aquileia, as by the Roman See's permission in those Notes published, I would not indeed argue against, it is permitted to inquire how rightly that Baronius did. nor to oppose the cult, which as to their Bishop Nicetas on this day they pay him, however solemn. Meanwhile his sanctity sufficiently persuade the calamity of the times, under which lived that one; and his zeal in restoring the ecclesiastical discipline, to be known from St. Leo the Pope's answers given in the year 458 of Christ, after Aquileia's devastation the 6th, to his questions about women, who, on the occasion of the captivity of their husbands, to others married; and about those, who captives when they were, idol-offerings by hunger or fear compelling ate; or by fear or error baptized; or finally once baptized were, but by heretics. I will not fight against also that the Subdeacon Niceas of Aquileia to whom is St. Jerome's Letter 42 they believe to be the Nicetas, who after St. Chromatius was made afterward Bishop, and beyond the year 458 his life prolonged: although it can be that this one long after lived, nor can with Jerome's Niceas be composed. Only I ask, that not unjustly bear the people of Aquileia moreover by me to be discussed, that which already by old age failing Henschen declined, and with Quesnel to be examined the foundation, by which relying Baronius Aquileia and Romatiana or Rometiana the city or Romessiana, by Hierocles and the Peutinger old table so distinctly ascribed to Dacia (which however Baronius without a note of negligence was ignorant of, who that manuscript and table never saw) for one and the same city held, the whole Pannonias interposed probably separated.
[9] But what was Baronius's to such a novelty to build the foundation? Of the Roman Colonies the most noble was Aquileia; and, just as Ausonius in the Poem on the noble cities Arles names, "Gallic Rome"; He sets it to be called another Rome, so Leander a recent Cosmographer, when he treats of the Aquileian city, it "the second Rome called" says. He is Brother Leandro Alberti of Bologna, of the Order of Preachers, who a Description of all Italy in Italian wrote, published at Bologna in the year 1550, which work into Latin rendered William Kyriander, and at Cologne to be printed gave in the year 1566. The original text is not at hand; the Latin version thus has: "That at Aquileia Caesar Augustus the controversies of Herod and his sons heard, and a judgment gave, Josephus relates; Tiberius here with Julia his wife staying, a birth she premature brought forth; the Emperor too at Aquileia Vespasian by the Legions saluted we read: but without a fit witness; for which causes so great a city of increase and of beauty, both in wealth and in buildings, obtained, that another it was called Rome." I hear: and to have been able to be said oratorically and poetically I see; but yield to me, I do not say a Historian, but even a Poet or Rhetor, ancient or new, who so spoke, besides that Leander, in a matter so ancient nothing without a witness about to prove. Aquileia so often the Martyrologies name: in this one place, would they have called it by a name not its own? and not even Rome, but Romatiana. Who so barbarous anywhere, that so he would speak and write?
[10] Baronius presses, and "To this truth greatly suffrages," he says, "that St. Chromatius, the predecessor of St. Niceas about whom we treat, that a certain Chromatius is called Bishop Roman, in an excellent commentary which he wrote on the eight Beatitudes, in its title inscribed is found 'Chromatius Bishop Roman.' Wherefore hallucinates plainly Sixtus of Siena, when he says that Chromatius to be called is found 'Roman Bishop,' because Roman by fatherland he was. Hallucinates that one altogether: for where I ask (I use Baronius's words) such a nomenclature found Sixtus, that a citizen Roman, made of some city outside the city Bishop, would be called 'Roman Bishop'?" But not much will hallucinate, to whom suspect be the title of the book, but it does not prove him to be Bishop of Aquileia. neither to Jerome, of Chromatius of Aquileia the intimate, nor to Gennadius the of Ecclesiastical Writers Catalogue years after him eighty supplementing. Who knows not such titles often by copyists' discretion to have been written? and would not see, easily, but ignorantly, to that Chromatius, truly Roman, to have been able to be smeared the title of Bishop; with whom namely that name commonly was found in the Letters, of this and of Heliodorus to Jerome, and of Jerome to them, prefixed to the older Martyrology?
Who likewise would not see, that by one letter's change from "Comanus" could have been made "Romanus"? There is moreover Comana a city Episcopal double, in Armenia one, what if he ought to be written, not Roman, but Comanian Bishop, in Pontus the other. There is (that within of the Latin tongue the provinces we may remain) Comania at the Danube, "Comenia" to Ptolemy, a part of the present Wallachia or Moldavia, to the King of Hungary's titles to be reckoned wont; which its without doubt Bishop had sometime its own, from his nation rather than from an Episcopal city named, just as Nicetas Paulinus's friend Bishop of Dacia; and perhaps the same if not in person and time, certainly in region and dignity (to be silent about the name) since Comania of old Dacia a part is.
[11] "Let us grant however," says Quesnel, "that 'Roman' too was called the Bishop of Aquileia: that, if it happened, after many years to have happened I judge: but by what reason it could happen, I seem to myself quite happily from Paul the Deacon to elicit." Namely the Lombard devastation (the 6th century aging) fleeing the people of Aquileia, [or that 'Roman' is to be understood, as opposed to the Aquileian Lombard sitting at Grado?] in the nearest Grado island a seat chose. (The same under Attila done gratuitously is said in the Lessons; but it is known that from that time's flight the city of Venice its took beginning) Fleeing, I say, the people of Aquileia to Grado, its there thereafter Bishop created; Helias who likewise had fled and Severus, who after him had been ordained, being dead. Their successors are explained by Ughelli volume 5 up to … and from the year 589 up to 1445, when the Patriarchate to Venice was translated. Thus the one created, for distinction of him who in old Aquileia was created, (for Grado it had pleased "new Aquileia" to call) "Roman" perhaps they may have called, as for the Romans, or by the Romans created. Paul the Deacon, on whom relies Quesnel, in book 4 chapter 34, thus writes. "In these days, Severus the Patriarch being dead at Grado in the year 605, ordained was in his place John the Abbot Patriarch in old Aquileia, with the consent of King Agilulf and Duke Gisulf; at Grado too ordained was Roman (otherwise 'of the Romans') Candidianus the Bishop … Candidianus too being dead at Grado was ordained Patriarch Epiphanius, who had been Primicerius of the Notaries, by the Bishops who were under the Romans: and from that time began to be two Patriarchs." and that this one is younger than the Chromatius who lived under Attila? Let the Reader choose what he will, he will not be compelled to believe that Aquileia once Rome or Romatiana was called. That even that whatever-kind-of Chromatius Baronius makes both either "Roman" in this sense, or Comanian Bishop, the Author of the Commentaries on Matthew, as wishes ours Le Mire in the Supplement of writers from which is had the Dissertation on Chapter 4 and 5, which to others it pleased "on the Beatitudes" to name, than Jerome and Gennadius younger far, on account of their about that work silence; nothing at all that will make to either, about which to us is the discourse; nor will it help Nicetas the Aquileian to whom wrote Leo, that it be believed under the name of Nicetas Bishop of Romatiana already once to have had a place in the Martyrologies.
[12] And so, the right to the people of Aquileia being saved, more recently acquired, of worshipping their Nicetas under Attila a fugitive, as a Saint, even on this day; The Romatianan he could have been who otherwise by the right of prescription is owed to Nicetas of Romatiana; let us hold this, not that, to have been inscribed in the Martyrologies, even the Roman reformed; and only this let us inquire, whether it is probable, that this very is he, who St. Paulinus of Nola twice visited, a man for sanctity and doctrine most praised. To distinguish them would prefer Quesnel: I of distinction necessity none see; nay I suspect that Paulinus himself, in Letter X to Severus, where Nicetas who from Dacia had come, Paulinus's guest, Bishop of Dacia. he calls "by the Romans deservedly to be venerated," either wrote "by the people of Romatia or of Romatiana," but in this corrupted by the copyists, suspecting an error; or by the of the barbarous word distaste he used a nobler and the same meaning, nor about any less than about the of the city of Rome citizens thought Paulinus; although also about these to think he could, if from Rome came Nicetas, as gratuitously, as if from Paulinus, assumes Baronius, but Paulinus nowhere will be found to have said it, if well the words be weighed. But I said that by the of prescription right this day is owed to Nicetas of Romatiana: for I judge that the ancient Martyrologists, above number 2 toward the end by Henschen related, therefore only on this day joined to Paulinus Nicetus, better Nicetas to be called, because his proper of death or of cult day they knew not. to whom newly is assigned the 7th of January, But by this title more excusable are the of the Roman Martyrology reformers Gregorian, who nothing thinking about identifying the of Dacia and the of Romatiana Bishop; to this 22nd of June about to recur under a more unknown to them title, to him, under a more known to them appellation, assigned the 7th day of January, although to no older Calendars thus before inscribed; with that license namely, by which holy many Fathers, whose day was unknown and whose memory seemed of the Martyrology worthy, to the same they inserted, on a day pleasing to themselves, nor elsewhere anywhere found.
[13] With a new therefore in January day content that one, not unwillingly (I believe) this 22nd of June will yield to the other Saint and to himself of-the-same-name the Aquileian, under that more known title commonly, although by the ancient martyrologists and the new passed over; of whose doctrine and sanctity would that equally clear and illustrious extant testimonies! But if to me God shall have granted the destined of January supplement to complete, or even a new of it edition, the copies failing soon indeed to be about to be necessary, but on account of the times' calamities not so soon to be hoped for; as Theophilus called also Bishop of Gothia, I shall order to January to be transferred, whatever from the Martyrologies can be gathered, about the older Nicetas or Niceas, on this day occurring, as most probably the same. For that him Paulinus, of Dacia rather, than of Romatiana the Bishop called; thereby it was done I think, because the nation of the Dacians, in a Scythian almost manner living, no certain had a royal seat; and so their Bishop, although he had a Cathedra in a certain place placed, namely in the city Romatiana, often yet nowhere less than there lived, on his Apostolic office intent. So at the Nicene Council is read to have been present Theophilus Bishop of Gothia: though not lacking his own city. for so was named Dacia, as long as in it the Goths dwelt, which they departing again Dacia was called, until under the Romans it was. But as of old Dacia, in Ptolemy's age the royal city Sarmizegethusa was called, so of the more recent and to the Romans returned Dacia the Metropolis, in Paulinus's time, the Metropolis, perhaps was called Romatia or Romesia or Romatiana with a termination indeed barbaric, but the same meaning, as if in Latin we should say "Roman."