ON SS. EGDONUS, OR EGDUNIUS, PRIEST, AND SEVEN COMPANIONS, AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA.
CommentaryEgdonus, or Egdunius, Priest, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Six companions, Martyrs at Nicomedia in Bithynia (SS.)
The day of 12 March is begun with the Martyrs of Nicomedia in four copies of the Martyrology of S. Jerome, in nearly these words: "On the fourth day before the Ides of March, at Nicomedia, of Egdonus the Priest and seven others who were suffocated." In one codex, with a letter omitted, Egonus is read; in another, with two letters added, Eggedonus; in a third codex, "of nine who were suffocated." But the recorded encomium is also found in a manuscript at Monte Cassino written in Lombard script, and in the manuscripts of Altemps and of the Vatican church of S. Peter under the name of Bede, and in many others. Usuard suggests somewhat more: "Likewise at Nicomedia," he says, "of the Saints Egdunius the Priest and seven others, who were suffocated on successive days, so that fear might be struck into the rest." The same things are found in Ado, Notker, the printed Bede, and very many manuscripts, but with variant spellings: Egdoni, Agdoni, Agodoni, Egdomi, Egduni, Egdunii—which last, after Molanus, Baronius chose and thus inscribed in today's Roman Martyrology. In his Notes, he considers him to be Migdonius the Priest, whom we shall mention below, but who is clearly different from him. The remaining Acts are hidden.