ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA: FELICISSIMUS, DATIVUS, FRONTINA, AND JOCUNDUS.
CommentaryFelicissimus, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Dativus, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Frontina, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Jocundus, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
[1] This is the second class of Martyrs proposed in the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and indeed in the edition printed at Paris it reads thus: At Nicomedia, of Felicissimus, Dativa, Frontinus, Jocundus. In the three other copies the following is read: At Nicomedia, of Felicissimus, Dativus, Frontina. The same is found in the Vatican manuscript of St. Peter, likewise in Notker and Hermann Greven in his additions to Usuard: with Jocundus omitted everywhere. But Rabanus commemorates only two: At Nicomedia, the birthday of Felicissimus, Frontina. Which were thence printed under the name of Bede, and are read in the Richebergensis manuscript. In the manuscript of St. Cyriacus frequently cited by Baronius, and the manuscript of the Queen of Sweden praised by Lucas Holstein, and the manuscript of St. Mary at Utrecht, the following is proposed: At Nicomedia, of Felicissimus, Dativus. Which, with the order changed and Peter interposed, are mentioned in the very ancient codex of St. Maximin. But Peter pertains to the following class. The same two, without an added place, are in the Aequicintine manuscript under the name of Usuard. Felicissimus alone is celebrated in the manuscripts of Augsburg, Labbé, St. Martin of Trier, and St. Lambert of Liège, but nearly always joined with others. Thus Dativus is mentioned in the manuscript of St. Mary ad Gradus at Cologne, and Frontiana, in others Frontina, in the manuscript of Barberini, hitherto headless: for her, in the Richenau manuscript, Florentinus is related after the other two. In the Cassinese manuscript, perhaps by a copyist's error, it reads: At Nicaea, instead of Nicomedia, of Felicissimus, Dativus, Frontina. Concerning Pion, who is subjoined in both the Cassinese and Vatican manuscripts, we shall treat below. In the manuscript of St. Cyriacus, on March 13, mention is made of Frontina, which pertains here, and of Prion, called Pion below.