ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS GAIOLA, FELIX, EMERITUS OR EMETERUS, CELEDONIUS, LIKEWISE FELIX, SAVINIANUS, LIKEWISE FELIX, JULIUS, ANOTHER FELIX, MARINUS, DONATA, NICEPHORUS, CARISSIMUS, CLAUDIANUS, PAPIAS, LUCIOLA, SABIANUS OR SABINIANA, JUNULA, ASTERIUS, PHOTIUS, GEORGIUS, ISICUS, SISINNIUS, CASTUS, BASILIUS, SOLUS, ARTILAUS, ANTONIUS, CYRICUS, EUTICUS, GORGONIUS, ASCLIPIUS, FRUNIMIUS, AND ZOSIMUS,
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Gaiola, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Felix, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Emeritus, or Emeterus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Celedonius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Felix II, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Savinianus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Felix III, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Julius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Felix IV, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Marinus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Donata, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Nicephorus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Carissimus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Claudianus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Papias, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Luciola, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Sabianus, or Sabiniana, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Junula, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Asterius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Phocius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Georgius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Isicus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Sisinnius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Castus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Basilius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Solus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Artilaus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Antonius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Cyricus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Euticus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Gorgonius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Asclipius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Frunimius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Zosimus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
[1] This third cohort of the soldiers of Christ advances, far more numerous than the two preceding ones, which the aforesaid Martyrology of Saint Jerome, which we possess written in ancient script nearly a thousand years ago, thus presents: "In Africa: of Gaiola, Felix, African Martyrs in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, Emeterus, Celedonius, Felix, Sabinianus, Calagurris, Meterus, likewise Celedonius, Julius, Felix, Marinus, Donata, Nicephorus, Carissimus, Claudianus, Papias, Luciola, Felix, Sabianus, Junula, Fovius, Asterius, Georgius, Sisinnius, Basilius, Artilaus, Isicus, Cyricus, Euticus, Gorgonius, Antonius, Frunimius, Asclipius, Castus, Solus." The same, but with the order occasionally varied and some names written differently, are placed in the Lucca Martyrology of the same Saint Jerome as follows: "In Africa: of Gaiola, Felix, Emeterus, Celedonius, likewise Felix, Savinianus, Galogorus, likewise Emeterus, Felix, likewise Celedonius, likewise Julius, Felix, Marinus, Donata, Nicephorus, Carissimus, Claudianus, Papias, Luciola, Salianus, Junula, Astrius, Photius, Georgius, Isicus, Sisinnius, Castus, Basilius, Solus, Artilaus, Antonius, Cyricus, Euticus, Gorgonius, Asclipius, Frunimius." The same are listed in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome published at Paris, thus expressed: "In Africa: of Gaiola, Felix, Emerita, Cellidonus, likewise Felix, Savinianus, Galogorus, likewise Emeritus, likewise Felix, likewise Ecaeledonus, likewise Julius, Felix, Marinus, Donata, Nicephorus, Carissimus, Claudianus, Papias, Luciola, Sabiniana, Junola, Asterius, Photius, Georgius, Isicus, Sisinnius, Castus, Basilisolus, Artilaus, Antonius, Cyricus, Euticus, Gorgonius, Asclipius, Frunimius, Zosimus." Thus far three codices of the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, in the last two of which, after the first two—namely Gaiola and Felix—the two words "depositio reliquorum" were interposed, which we omitted along with the first manuscript, since we do not sufficiently grasp what is signified by them. With the Lucca manuscript nearly agrees what the distinguished Julius Henricus Blumius found in Germany.
[2] In other Martyrologies some of these Martyrs are listed: and in others: for the manuscript Martyrology of the Queen of Sweden has: "In Africa: of Gaiolus." The manuscript of Centula, or Saint Riquier: "In Africa: of Saints Gaiolus, Felix, Nicephorus, Claudianus." The Prague manuscript: "Gaiola, Felix." The Labbé manuscript: "Gaiola, Julius, Castus, Solus." The Augsburg manuscript: "Gaiulus, Emeterius, Julius, Castus." The Aachen manuscript: "Gaiolus, Julius, Castus." In Greven, Solus is added. Thus far the more ancient Martyrologies, from which this diversity of vocabulary should be noted: Gaiola is also called names variously expressed Caiola, Gaiolus, and Gaiulus; Emeterus appears twice, also as Hemeterus, Meterus, Emeterius, Emeritus, and Emerita; Celedonius also as Celedonus, Cellidonus, and Ecaeledonus; Sabinianus, Savinianus, Sabianianus, Sabianus, and Sabiniana; Galogorus and Calogorus; Photius, Focius, and Fovus. Likewise, the names Basilius and Solus have been conflated into one, Basilisolus, through the error of scribes. Saints Emeterius and Chelidonius, Martyrs at Calagurris in Spain, are venerated on this day; lest they perhaps be listed here, we omitted three in the title.
[3] Galesin celebrates one with this eulogy: "In Africa, of Saint Lucius, Bishop and Martyr, Was Lucius a Bishop? who, under the Emperor Valerian, was slain for the glory of Christ and illustriously crowned." Ferrarius in his Catalogue transcribes Galesin, who makes no mention of that Lucius in his Notes; hence on what basis, in the silence of the others, he calls him a Bishop and places him under the Emperor Valerian suffered, is not clear. Marinus and Asterius, crowned at Caesarea in Palestine, are also listed on this same day, perhaps assigned to this day on which African Martyrs of the same name are venerated, Other Martyrs of the same name. because their birthday was unknown, Eusebius, who treats of them, making no mention of the day. The Greeks venerate Asterius on August 7; nowhere, so far as we know, do they venerate Marinus; and in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, seven other Martyrs are interposed between the two, which it suffices to have noted.