CONCERNING S. OCTAVIANUS AND MANY THOUSANDS OF MARTYRS IN AFRICA.
ABOUT THE YEAR 484.
Commentary Octavianus and Many Thousands, Martyrs in Africa (SS.)
[1] We have already given the Acts of S. Deogratias, Bishop of Carthage, who died around the year 456, at which time the Vandal King Geiseric, of the Arian faction, was ruling there; to whom, having died in the year 476, his son Huneric succeeded. The latter, as Victor of Utica testifies in book 2 of the Vandal Persecution, gave permission—at the request of the Emperor Zeno and Placidia through edicts—for the Church of Carthage to ordain for itself whatever Bishop it wished, which had been destitute of such an ornament for twenty-four years—namely, from the said year 456 They are joined with S. Eugene, Bishop of Carthage, to the year 480, when S. Eugene was created Bishop. But he was then driven into exile by the same King to the province of Tripolitania, and afterwards sent by his successor Gundamund to Gaul, where he died near the city of Albi around the year 495, on July 13. His Acts are continued by the said Victor and by Gregory of Tours in book 2 of the History of the Franks, chapter 3, who, after relating his death, adds concerning Huneric: "He ordered the holy Vindemialis to be struck with the sword, which was indeed fulfilled in this contest. and S. Vindemialis, Octavianus the Archdeacon, and many thousands of men and women, asserting this faith, were slain and maimed. But for the love of glory, these punishments were nothing to the holy Confessors, who, vexed in a few things, knew well that they would be disposed of in many good things, according to that saying of the Apostle: 'For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed in the Saints.'" Rom. 8. Baronius in his Annals refers these things to the year 484, at which time he also establishes that S. Eugene was sent into exile. S. Vindemialis is venerated on May 11.
[2] Molanus inscribed S. Octavianus with his companions under March 22 in his Additions to Usuard, inscribed in the sacred calendars: published in the year 1568, and Canisius in the German Martyrology, printed in the year 1573; after whom in today's Roman Martyrology they are celebrated with this eulogy: "At Carthage, S. Octavianus the Archdeacon and many thousands of Martyrs, who were slain by the Vandals for the Catholic faith." Gregory of Tours does not assert that all were slain in one place or on the same day. We believe, moreover, that many of these Martyrs were crowned with martyrdom throughout Africa near Carthage on various days, indeed even in various years. Masinus in his survey of Bologna asserts that relics of the Martyr S. Octavianus are preserved in the church of S. Francis; relics of some Octavianus are at Bologna. but the proof that they belong to this Martyr would certainly be difficult; who was nevertheless adopted for this purpose because no other was inscribed in the Roman Martyrology.