CONCERNING SAINT AGAPITUS IN PHRYGIA.
CommentaryAgapitus in Phrygia (S.)
[1] The very ancient Martyrology of the Most Serene Christina, Queen of Sweden, which Lucas Holstenius chiefly used in composing his Observations on the Roman Martyrology, and the Utrecht manuscript of S. Mary, S. Agapitus, whether a Martyr, and with them Bellinus, among other things have for this day: In Phrygia, of Agapitus. But the Centula manuscripts of S. Richarius and the Trier manuscript of S. Paulinus, as also Usuard in his handwritten and printed codices, more correctly report: In Phrygia, of S. Agapitus: in the Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year 1490, the word Martyr is added, which seems to be implied in the former. But Peter de Natalibus, book 11, chapter 120, number 98, writes thus: or a Confessor? Agapitus the Confessor flourished in Phrygia on this very day. Maurolycus, Felicius, and Galesinius followed.
[2] In the present-day Roman Martyrology the following is found: At Synnada in Phrygia, of S. Agapitus the Bishop. Whether another Bishop of Synnada: But whether it treats of the same Saint who is celebrated by others may be doubted. In the Notes is added: Concerning the same, Bede and Usuard, although corruptly Agabus or Agabius is read in some places. We gave the words of Usuard. The genuine Bede is silent. The Centula manuscript which bears his name we have already cited. But what was printed under his name has the following: And the birthday of the Saints Seleucis and Agabus. Which are thus read in Rabanus: In Syria, of Seleucis, and in Africa, of Agabus. We treated of S. Seleucus separately, as also of S. Agapius, who is here understood, among the Martyrs killed at Caesarea in Palestine, whom we said are attributed to Africa by others, and that S. Agapius is also called Agapitus, and we gave the reason for each.
[3] his eulogy from Suidas. There were, moreover, at Synnada, which was the metropolis of Phrygia Salutaris, several Bishops called Agapetus or Agapitus. Of these, one is mentioned by Socrates, book 7 of his Ecclesiastical History, chapter 6, who presided over that Church at the time of the younger Emperor Theodosius. Concerning another, whom Baronius in his Notes on the Roman Martyrology asserts is celebrated on this day, Suidas writes under the word Agapetus: Agapetus, Bishop of Synnada, whom Eusebius Pamphili greatly praises, and makes mention of his extraordinary miracles, narrating translations of mountains and rivers and resurrections of the dead: and how Maximinus, while he was still a soldier, wished to kill him as a Christian, because he had heard that many marveled exceedingly at his deeds. Having reported which things, Baronius in the Annals at the year 311, number 19, adds: Since in the extant History of Eusebius nothing of this sort is read, it seems to have been taken from some one of those commentaries of the same author which Suidas lists, hitherto undiscovered.