Seventy

From the Ms. Synaxary of Dijon.

Commentary

Seventy Martyrs, at Scythopolis in Palestine (SS.)

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.

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