ON THE HOLY SEVEN WOMEN ALEXANDRA, CLAUDIA, EUPHRASIA, MATRONA, JULIANA, EUPHEMIA, AND THEODOSIA, AT AMISUS ON THE EUXINE SEA. ALSO ON SAINT DERPHUTA AND HER SISTER.
UNDER MAXIMIAN.
CommentaryAlexandra, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Claudia, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Euphrasia, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Matrona, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Juliana, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Euphemia, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Theodosia, Martyr at Amisus in Pontus (Saint)
Derphuta and Her Sister, Martyrs (Saint)
[1] The veneration of these matrons is celebrated among the Greeks, and following their example among the Latins -- not only on March 20, Names in the sacred calendars on March 18 but also on the two days immediately preceding. In the very ancient manuscript Greek Synaxarion of the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, under March 18 this eulogy is contained: "On the same day, the contest of the holy seven women who suffered at Amisus: Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia. These flourished when, under the reigning Emperor Maximian, a great persecution was stirred up, in which all Lycia was utterly uprooted, with people being put to death for Christ the Lord through horrendous and varied punishments. After in the city of Amisus as well, whoever preached Christ was delivered to death without delay by the Governor of the city, a devotee of idol worship, seven women kindled by the fervor of the Faith stood before him and professed that they were all Christians, and freely rebuking him, called him cruel, unjust, and an enemy of the truth. Whereupon the tyrant, moved to anger, ordered them first to be stripped of their garments and beaten with rods, then to have their breasts cut off with swords. Afterwards, having been suspended, they were torn apart until their intestines were visible, and finally, cast into a great furnace kindled with fire, they offered their souls to Christ the Lord."
[2] Under March 19, in the Menologion rendered into Latin by Sirletus, these words are read: March 19 "On the same day, the contest of the holy seven women at Amysus: Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia; also of Saint Derphuta and her sister." All of which, with the Menologion cited in the margin, are found in the Martyrology printed in French at Liege in the year 1624, and by way of explanation it is added that Amisus is a city of Paphlagonia.
[3] Under this March 20, the printed Greek Menaia have the following: "On the same day, the commemoration of the holy seven women who suffered at Amisus: March 20 Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia. These were living when the impious Maximian was emperor, who stirred up a great persecution against Christians, when all who confessed Christ, of whatever sex or age, were cut down by diverse acts of torture and punishment. After the same was carried out in the city of Amisus as well by its Prefect, these seven women, having assumed the boldness of speaking freely, standing before him, professed themselves to be Christians and called the Prefect himself cruel, savage, and a foe. Wherefore, first stripped of their garments, they are beaten with rods; then their breasts are cut off with swords; next they are suspended and torn apart until their intestines and viscera are visible; and then, cast into a fiery furnace, they delivered their souls to God." A similar eulogy exists in the manuscript Menaia of Chifflet and in others preserved at the library of Turin belonging to the Duke of Savoy, and indeed also at Paris in the library of Mazarin; but in these the name of Euphrasia was lacking, and everywhere Matrona, not Patrona, is read.
[4] Among the Latins, Galesinius celebrates them for the same March 20 as follows: "In the city of Amisus, the holy Martyrs of Christ: Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia. These seven women, at the time when by the edict of Maximian every kind of person professing the Christian faith was put to death with various punishments and tortures, openly and freely professed themselves to be Christians. Having severely rebuked the savage impiety of the Prefect before whom they were brought to trial, they were first beaten with rods, then, having bravely endured other torments, they were placed in the flames and rendered their souls to God." The words of Galesinius, but somewhat more contracted, are reported in the second edition of the German Martyrology. In today's Roman Martyrology these words are read: "At Amisus in Paphlagonia, the holy seven women: Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia, who were slain in the confession of the faith; and Derphuta and her sister followed them." In the Notes --
it is indicated that the Greeks also treat of them in the Menologion on this day, and that the names of these same women are recited there, and that Parasceve is numbered among them. It is therefore a different Menologion from that which, translated by Sirletus, has no Parasceve except the sister of Saint Photina, of whom we treated above, and refers these women to the preceding day -- to whom it appends Derphuta with her sister, though it is not indicated that they suffered in the same place. There is a great silence concerning this Derphuta and her sister in the other eulogies cited above, which we have repeated from various sources for precisely that reason. The place of martyrdom is also expressed, and is more often called Aminsus, sometimes Amysus and Amisus, and is established as a city of Paphlagonia, namely on the Euxine Sea on the borders of Galatian Pontus -- whence it is also ascribed to Galatia by Ptolemy, book 5, chapter 6, and to Helenopontus in the List of Bishoprics under the metropolis of Amasia; among later writers it is called Amensus, as is added in the edition of Ptolemy.
ON SAINT RHODIANUS, MARTYR, AMONG THE GREEKS.
CommentaryRhodianus, Martyr, among the Greeks (Saint)
The commemoration of this Martyr is appended after the aforesaid women in the printed Menaia, and these few things are indicated: "On the same day, the holy Martyr Rhodianus ended his life by the sword." The same is read in the manuscript Menaia of Chifflet and in Maximus Cytheraeus. The former Menaia add this couplet:
"Rhodianus was brought to you, O Christ, like a red rose, His body steeped in blood."
In the Menologion rendered into Latin by Sirletus, these words are found: "On the same day, of the holy Martyr Rhodianus, who, struck by the axe for the confession of the Christian faith, having attained the palm of martyrdom, departed to heaven." Galesinius depicts him in other words: "On the same day, of Saint Rhodianus the Martyr, who, slain by the sword for the glory of Christ, received from him a heavenly reward." Ferrarius inscribed him in his General Catalogue. All else is hidden.
ON SAINT AQUILA THE GOVERNOR, MARTYR, AMONG THE GREEKS.
CommentaryAquila the Governor, Martyr, among the Greeks (Saint)
[1] We follow the traces appearing in the printed Menaia, and present what is indicated in Greek. These things, therefore, are read: "On the same day, the holy Aquila the Governor completed the course of his life by the sword."
"O Aquila, you appeared as a spotless victim to your spotless Lord, when you fell, cut down by the sword."
The same Aquila is commemorated in Maximus Cytheraeus and in the manuscript Menaia of Chifflet and others, and he is always designated as eparchos, so that he was the Governor of some province, or certainly some Praetor or Prefect; but at what time or in what place, who could divine? Many bearing the name Aquila are also inscribed in the Latin and Greek calendars, but whether the same person is treated of elsewhere is uncertain.