CONCERNING SAINTS GORGONIUS PALATINUS AND FIRMUS, OR FIRMINUS, MARTYRS, AT NICAEA IN BITHYNIA
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Gorgonius Palatinus, Martyr at Nicaea in Bithynia (Saint) Firmus, or Firminus, Martyr at Nicaea in Bithynia (Saint)
[1] The sacred memory of these Saints is celebrated in several Martyrologies to be esteemed for their antiquity, such as the Martyrology of Saint Jerome published at Paris and at Lucca, likewise the manuscripts of the same Saint Jerome, of which one preserved by us was written nearly a thousand years ago, another is with Henry Julius Blumius. Likewise the manuscript Martyrologies of the Cassinese monastery in Lombard script: The name of these Saints in ancient Martyrologies on March 10. the Roman ones, one of the church of Saint Peter in the Vatican, another of the Duke of Altemps, another of the Vallicellian Library of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory, which formerly belonged to the monastery of Saint Cyriacus, and which Baronius used greatly in ordering the Roman Martyrology: likewise the manuscripts of the Queen of Sweden and the Corbey manuscript, of which we used the former at Rome, the latter at Paris in the monastery of Saint Germain des Pres. In these Martyrologies the following is read: On the sixth day before the Ides of March, At Nicaea, of Gorgonius Palatinus and Firmus. In place of Gorgonius, Gurgonius is also read, and once Golgonius, just as also once for Nicaea, Niceria is written. But with Firmus omitted, it is read in the manuscript of the Reichenau monastery, or Augia Dives near Constance: At Nicaea, of Gorgonius Palatinus. But on the other hand, with Palatinus omitted, these appear in the Vatican manuscript in Lombard script, codex 5949: At Nicaea, of Saints Gorgonius and Firminus. But in the Augsburg manuscript of the monastery of Saint Ulrich and the Parisian one of our Labbe: At Nicaea, of Gorgonius, Firmus. Without indicating even the arena of martyrdom, Saints Gorgonius and Firmus Martyrs are listed in the Liege manuscript of Saint Lambert and the Aachen manuscript, both under the name of Bede: likewise in the Roman manuscript of Ferdinand Ughelli, the Parisian of Saint Victor, the Rouen manuscript of the distinguished Bigot, the Brussels manuscript of Saint Gudula, the Anchin manuscript, and various others under the name of Usuard: finally in the manuscript Florilegium and in the Martyrologies printed at Cologne and Lubeck in the year 1490. Thus also Saints Gorgonius and Firminus are read in the Pleschionen manuscript, which we used at Naples in Lombard script in the library of the Clerks Regular, and in the Usuard of the Queen of Sweden: in whose other manuscript codex under the name of Ado, only Gorgonius is mentioned. So far the ancient Martyrologies, in some of which the name Palatinus is read, omitted from others; we add it to Saint Gorgonius as if it were a surname, which we wished to point out to
the Reader, especially because another Palatinus is venerated among the Nicomedian Martyrs on this day. Florentinus considers it to be the name of a Martyr rather than a title of dignity.
[2] To the above-mentioned Martyrs, immediately in several of the calendars already cited, there is appended: At Antioch, of Agape the Virgin. But in place of Antioch, Galesinius reads the name Antonius, Antonius and Agape are wrongly joined to them. and citing ancient handwritten Martyrologies in his Notes, he writes thus: At Nicaea in Bithynia, of the blessed Martyrs Gorgonius, Firmus, Antonius, and Agape the Virgin. Citing Galesinius, and him alone, Ferrarius writes the following in the General Catalogue: At Nicaea in Bithynia, of the holy Martyrs Antonius and Agape the Virgin. He omits Gorgonius and Firmus, because he judges that they are treated in the Roman Martyrology on the next following day, as we shall presently say. The rest concerning Antonius, inserted in place of Antioch, will be clearer below when we treat of Agape, who suffered there.
[3] Again on March 11 the same Martyrs are listed, and first in the Reichenau Martyrology, in which we said that on this day was read: At Nicaea, of Gorgonius Palatinus; then the following appears: The memory of Saints Gorgonius and Firmus on March 11. At Nicaea, of Gorgonius and Firmus. Elsewhere, with the city of Nicaea omitted, they are mentioned. Thus the Cassinese manuscript, different from the one cited above but also written in Lombard script: The birthday of Saint Gorgonius the Martyr and Saint Firminus the Martyr. But Bellinus, Maurolycus, Molanus, Canisius, and with them today's Roman Martyrology relate the following: Likewise of Saints Gorgonius and Firmus. The mention of Gorgonius the Martyr alone is made in the Trier manuscript of Saint Martin's. But both are joined in other Martyrologies also to Martyrs who suffered elsewhere. The Martyrology of Saint Jerome published at Paris: to whom others also are joined. At Nicomedia, of Eunuculus, Euchus. And of Gorgonius, Firmus, Paul, Fortunatus. Where the conjunction "And" seems to indicate another place. In our manuscript of the same Saint Jerome it reads thus: At Nicomedia, of Eunuchus. And of Gorgonius, Firmus, Agapitus. Notker agrees with these almost entirely when he offers the following: At Nicomedia, of Eunicus. And of Gorgonius, Firmus. And of Agapitus. In these, Agapitus seems to be placed in the position of Saint Agape, because she, as will be shown below, was substituted for Saints Gorgonius and Firmus in many Martyrologies, and is also called Agapita. Finally the Tournai manuscript of Saint Martin's and the Laetium manuscript, omitting Firmus, Eunuculus, and Euchus, or Eunuchus or Eunicus, nevertheless ascribe Gorgonius to Nicomedia and add Heraclius and Alexander, whom we shall say suffered at Carthage on that day. There is meanwhile another Nicomedian Martyr, Gorgonius, Another Gorgonius who suffered at Nicomedia. who is found ascribed in various Martyrologies to Saint Peter, the chamberlain of Diocletian, and to other Nicomedian Martyrs on March 12, whence he could easily have been inserted into some Martyrologies on the preceding day, especially since the same Nicomedian Martyr Gorgonius was accustomed to be celebrated on the same March 11 with a solemn Ecclesiastical Office in the Church of Minden on account of the arrival of his Relics. The said Gorgonius is inscribed with Saint Dorotheus in the Roman Martyrology and other ancient ones on September 9. Concerning the Spaniards who say that Saints Gorgonius and Firmus suffered in their region together with Saints Antonius and Agape, we shall treat presently in the Commentary on Saint Agape.