ON THE HOLY SEVENTY
MARTYRS AT SCYTHOPOLIS IN PALESTINE.
From the Ms. Synaxary of Dijon.
CommentarySeventy Martyrs, at Scythopolis in Palestine (SS.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Palestine being disturbed about the year 452,
by those who refused to receive the Chalcedonian
Synod, Their number, omitted in the title, for
the defense of the same there was slain S.
Severianus, Bishop of the city of Scythopolis,
inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology on the 21st of February. On such occasion
of that city Bollandus treated more fully, it is had from the comparison with the 70 Disciples to which referring the Reader,
I indicate from the Dijon Ms. the Martyrs,
much, as I at least judge, more ancient than seventy.
Which number, although it slipped from the hasty scribe
in the title, and there are read these words alone, "The holy
Martyrs, who at Scythopolis by the sword are perfected,"
the holy Martyrs at Scythopolis are consummated by the sword;
the comparison however of the same with the Disciples
of Christ, expressed in the adjoined Distich, requires the number itself,
in this manner:
"Thou hast Disciples seven times ten, O Saviour,
Thou hast as many Champions also by the sword."
Thou hast followers seven times ten men,
As many fighting by the sword, O Christ, thou hast.
But whether, as the Disciples and interpreters of the scriptures
are called by a round number seventy, as also the kind of death from the Distich. although
they were seventy-two; so also could be increased the number
of these holy champions, I would not dare to define.