CONCERNING SAINTS HERAIS, ARCHELAUS, CYRILLUS, PHOTIUS, AND ONE HUNDRED FORTY OR ONE HUNDRED FIFTY OTHER MARTYRS.
CommentaryHerais, Martyr (Saint)
Archelaus, Martyr (Saint)
Cyrillus, Martyr (Saint)
Photius, Martyr (Saint)
Another one hundred forty or one hundred fifty, Martyrs
[1] The ancient Menaea or manuscript Synaxaria of the Monastery of Grottaferrata, of Cardinal Mazarin, and of the Collge de Clermont of the Society of Jesus at Paris, present these Saints at this day with these words: Saints Herais, "On the same day, of the holy Martyr Herais, and of the holy Martyrs Archelaus, Cyrillus, and Photius." Sirletus also had these in his Menologion and rendered them into Latin as follows: Archelaus, Cyrillus, Photius, "Of the holy Martyr Herais and of the holy Martyrs Archelaus, Cyrillus, and Photius." The same are inscribed in the Martyrology published in French at Liege, but with the men placed first, and in place of Herais is written Aerais; with her omitted and the said Menologion cited, the Roman Martyrology has: "Likewise, the passion of Saints Archelaus, Cyrillus, and Photius." In the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, Archelaus alone is found, also written as Ancilaus in another codex, and as Arcelaus in the Reichenau manuscript. Of the other Martyrs with whom he was joined, we have already treated.
[2] The printed Menaea have the following at the next day: "On the same day, of the holy Martyr Herois," or "Hirois," as Maximus of Cythera has it in his Lives of the Saints. Then, with Saint Eulogius the Martyr in Palestine and Saint Eulampius the Martyr interposed, there is added: and 140 companions. "On the same day, the holy Martyr Archelaus and 142 Martyrs with him are perfected by the sword.
Archelaus, first placing his neck beneath the sword: the beginning of the cutting is for you, O divine people of the Lord."
On the same day, of the holy Martyr Herois, or Hirois. Then: "On the same day, the holy Martyr Archelaus and 142 Martyrs with him are slain by the sword.
Archelaus first placing his neck beneath the sword, the beginning of the slaughter is for you, O divine people of the Lord."
Since Saints Cyrillus and Photius are omitted, we note only one hundred and forty or fifty companions in the title. In the Chifflet codex there are 152 companions.
[3] Masinus in his survey of Bologna reports that at this day, in the church of Saint Stephen at Bologna, certain relics of Saints Archelaus and Cyrillus the Martyrs are preserved; but whether these are the same, who can divine? whether their relics are at Bologna.