Martyrs Peter

CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS PETER, MARCIAN, CASSIAN, JOVINUS, THECLA OR THEODOLA. SOME OF THEM HELD TO BE BISHOPS.

Peter, Martyr (St.)

Marcian, Martyr (St.)

Cassian, Martyr (St.)

Jovinus, Martyr (St.)

Thecla or Theodola, Martyr (St.)

[1] To St. Castulus the Roman Martyr, whom we have already treated, various companions are joined: and first in the manuscript Martyrology of St. Cyriacus, which Baronius made much use of, these words appear: At Rome, the birthday of St. Castulus and Timothy. In the very ancient manuscript of Trier, St. Maximin, in place of Timothy is added Diogenes. But these two Martyrs, Timothy and Diogenes, suffered at Antioch, Various persons related with St. Castulus, recorded by various authorities on this day, by most on April 7. But without any place assigned, in the Aachen manuscript these names are joined together: Castolus, Monatus, Peter, Marcian, Capanus. Hermann Greven, after relating the words of Usuard, in which St. Castulus and then the athletes of Sirmium are treated, adds these: Of the Martyr Serotinus. Also of SS. Peter, Martian, Capanus. The Augsburg Martyrology manuscript of St. Ulrich has this: At Rome, of Castulus: elsewhere, of the Martyr Moniotnus, of Peter, Marcian, Timothy, Theodolus. Which names in the Labbe manuscript are expressed thus: believed to have been either elsewhere At Rome, of Castulus, elsewhere, of the Martyr Monatus, of Peter, Marcian, Cassian, Timothy, Theodore. Meanwhile most of these are attributed to Rome by Galesinius from a manuscript codex, and after the encomium of St. Castulus, these are joined: At Rome moreover of the most blessed Martyrs Peter, Martian, Jovinus, Thecla, Cassian, Theoricus: or to have suffered at Rome. who by an admirable endurance of torments died for Christ. Which same things are related from Galesinius in the later edition of the German Martyrology. In the present Roman Martyrology, after the eulogy of the said Castulus, these words are read: In the same place, the crown of the holy Martyrs Peter, Marcian, Jovinus, Thecla, Cassian, and others. Baronius in his Notes says they were restored from an ancient manuscript, that Galesinius also treats of them on this day, and indeed from a manuscript which Baronius perhaps intended: we have not seen one similar to it: nor do we doubt that many illustrious things still lie hidden.

[2] We shall indicate some things about each from ancient manuscripts. And first, he who in three manuscripts is called Monatus and Moniotnus, is for others Montanus who suffered at Sirmium, about whom we shall presently treat, who therefore is rightly omitted in the latest Martyrologies. After him are listed Peter, Marcian, and Cassian, about whom below, Thecla also called Theodola, where we shall also examine the Episcopal Sees assigned to them. There is also in Galesinius the name Theoricus, for which in the Roman Martyrology is read "and others." Theodore seems to be the one expressed above in the Labbe manuscript and who suffered in the Pentapolis of Libya on this day. Why could not a similar error have arisen, so that the word "elsewhere" which is read in the Augsburg and Labbe manuscripts was changed to "there" and "in the same place": and thus they were ascribed to Rome? He who in the Aachen manuscript and in the additions of Greven is listed after Marcian as Capanus, is for others the already mentioned Cassian. The memory of SS. Jovinus and Thecla was lacking on this day in the Augsburg and Labbe manuscripts, but on the day before, that is, March 25, both are listed in them: and Thecla in the Augsburg manuscript is called a Virgin, Jovinus, also Juvinus or Jocundus. in the Labbe manuscript a Martyr. In the Tamlacht manuscript in place of Jovinus is read Junius, and in the copies of Lucca, Corbie, Blume, and our St. Jerome, also in the Prague and Altemps manuscripts, in place of Thecla is read Theodola, and in place of Jovinus in the said Lucca copy of St. Jerome, Juvinie of Burgo; in the Blume manuscript, Juvin Burgun; in the Corbie copy printed at Paris, Juvini the Burgundian. And these we thought should be presented from the ancient Martyrologies. We think this Jovinus is perhaps called Jocundus in the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris, and joined to the Martyrs of Sirmium.

[3] Ferrari in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy treats of these Saints mentioned in the Roman Martyrology, and asserts that in the whole diocese of Reggio, The veneration of St. Cassian at Novellara, which is situated between Parma and Modena, the birthday of St. Cassian is celebrated on this day, because under Pope Clement VIII the body was brought from Rome to Novellara, a town of the said diocese of Reggio toward the North, where it has the chief veneration: on account of the sacred body brought there, which the people of Novellara chose as their Protector and Patron. But because we have not seen any authentic documents of this translation, we do not know how to judge among the many Martyrs called Cassian whose body that might be considered. Perhaps because this one is said to have been crowned at Rome, and they received that body from Rome, they necessarily concluded it must be his: just as some veneration of this St. Marcian exists at Bologna St. Marcian at Bologna. in the church of All Saints, because some Relics of his are said to be there. Consult Masini's Survey of Bologna.

[4] Francis Maria Florentinus in his Notes on the Martyrology of St. Jerome asserts that he fears the Peter, Marcian, and Cassian who with Jovinus and Thecla are attributed to Rome by Galesinius on this day, may from the ancient manuscripts be confused names from the Bishop of Sebaste, Martian of Heraclea, and Cassian, Bishops. So he says; we shall briefly present the ancient Martyrologies, They are called Bishops: St. Peter of Sebaste. leaving fuller judgment to others. And first, four copies of the Martyrology of St. Jerome have this about St. Peter: In the city of Sebaste, of Peter the Bishop. The manuscripts of Reichenau, Rhinow, Cassino, and the two Altemps copies agree. But without any place assigned, the memory of Peter the Bishop is celebrated in the Tamlacht manuscript and in the Calendar prefixed to the manuscripts of the works of St. Isidore in the Vallicella Library of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome. But when this Bishop sat at Sebaste, and was subjected to martyrdom, is unknown. We treated on March 10, page 30, of St. Peter Bishop of Sebaste and successor of St. Blaise, who collected the Relics of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, but he is nowhere called a Martyr. He could have been his predecessor and suffered Martyrdom together with St. Paulinus, who is added in the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris: unless St. Paulinus was attached from another place or day through error, since his name is absent in other copies. Bellinus of Padua published a Martyrology according to the usage of the Roman Curia, which was more fully reprinted at Paris in the year 1521, in which with the aforesaid manuscripts is assigned: In the city of Sebaste, the memory of Peter the Bishop.

[5] The second of the aforesaid Saints is Marcian, about whom our ancient copy has only this: In Aradeo, of Marcian. The Blume copy has: In Aradeo, of Martinian the Bishop: St. Marcian of Heraclea, where by the fault of the copyists the letter d seems to have been formed, as often elsewhere from the letters c and l; it should be read Aracle and Aracleo. The Lucca copy has: In Heraclea, of Martinian the Bishop. The Corbie copy printed at Paris: In Heraclea, of Martian the Bishop. The Altemps manuscript: In Heracleo, of St. Martial the Bishop. Bellinus cited above: In Aracleo, of St. Martial the Bishop. The manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, and from it Luke Holstein in his Observations on the Roman Martyrology: In Thrace, of St. Marcian the Bishop. Perhaps because the city of Heraclea is famous in Thrace, the region itself was indicated: or with the intermediate Saints, about whom we shall presently speak, and the city of Heraclea omitted, a full confusion of connection was made.

[6] The third finally is Cassian, Bishop in Celerno, whom four copies of St. Jerome and the aforesaid Bellinus list, placing him only in Celer. and Cassian of Celerna, Now Donatus, Bishop of Celerna or Celerina in Africa, was present at the Conference of Carthage held in the year 411.

[7] Between SS. Peter and Marcian certain persons were interposed

certain names in the four copies of St. Jerome: of these the Corbie copy printed at Paris has: In Thrace, of Sarmatinia. The Lucca copy, others interposed. Sarmatenia; the Blume copy, Sarmataemae; but our very ancient one divides it thus: In Thrace, Sarmatae, Armeniae. In the Tamlacht manuscript in place of these is the name of Maria. Whether from this the name of the Martyr Serotinus, which is found in the manuscript Florarium and in Greven and Canisius, was derived, we dare not conjecture. We add these in place of others who are joined to the above-mentioned Saints in the Roman Martyrology.

CONCERNING SS. MONTANUS THE PRIEST, MAXIMA HIS WIFE, AND FORTY OTHERS, MARTYRS AT SIRMIUM IN PANNONIA.

Montanus, Priest, Martyr at Sirmium in Pannonia (St.)

Maxima, his wife, Martyr at Sirmium in Pannonia (St.)

Forty Others, Martyrs at Sirmium in Pannonia (SS.)

[1] Sirmium, an ancient Roman colony and the Metropolis of all Pannonia, is situated in its lower territory not far from the river Save, a city distinguished by the births of the Emperors Probus, Valentinian, and Gratian, and the See of many, illuminated by the Christian religion from the earliest state of the Church, and ennobled by the blood of many Martyrs. Of these Martyrs, various ones have been listed in January and February, and others are mentioned on the preceding and on this day of March: in these there recurs that difficulty which we raised on February 23 in the Life of St. Serenus the monk and Martyr, whom some removed from Pannonia to Firmium, a city of Italy in Picenum, others to Sexti-Firmium, a city of Baetica formerly in Spain: which controversy is to be decided from the ancient Martyrologies. And first the very ancient manuscripts of Reichenau in Swabia and Rhinow in Switzerland have thus: Inscribed in Martyrologies as having suffered at Sirmium, At Sirmium, of Montanus the Priest: it is added in Rabanus, and of Maxima his wife. The double manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, of which one was prized by Holstein, the other formerly written in Franconia: At Sirmia, of Montanus the Bishop and Maxima his wife. The same is found in the copies of St. Jerome from Lucca, Blume, and Corbie, but Munatus is written for Montanus. But our most ancient codex of St. Jerome in Anglo-Saxon script has thus: At Sirmium, of Montanus the Priest, and Maxima his wife, and forty others. The same is read in the genuine Bede and they are said to have suffered almost at Sirmium. The Cassino and Altemps manuscripts would agree with Bede, except that they have Montio in place of Montanus.

[2] The manner of martyrdom is indicated by Usuard in these words: At Sirmium, SS. Montanus the Priest and Maxima, drowned in the sea. drowned, Thus almost all of Usuard's manuscript and printed copies; in some, Maximinus and Maximia is read in place of Maxima, and Maxima is called his wife, in the Centula, Vatican St. Peter's, and various other manuscripts. In the Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lubeck in the year 1490, it reads thus: At Sirmium, SS. Montanus the Priest and Maxima his wife, Martyrs, drowned in the sea: their bodies were found not far from the city. In other manuscripts they are said to have been cast into a river, not the sea: thus the Utrecht manuscript of St. Mary: At Sirmium, SS. Montanus the Priest and Maxima his wife: who being seized, were thrown into the river, and of forty other Martyrs. This is how Ado indicates. in a river, And near Sirmium, the birthday of St. Montanus the Priest, who with Maxima his wife was seized and hurled into the river: their bodies were found at the ninth milestone from the city and buried. The same is read in Notker, but by the fault of copyists or printers it reads "near Smyrnium," and should be corrected to "near Sirmium." The Trier manuscript of St. Martin adds companions: At Sirmium, of Montanus the Priest, who being seized, was thrown into the great river, and of Maxima his wife, and of forty other Martyrs. Nearly the same but without companions is read in the manuscript Florarium. The present Roman Martyrology agrees: At Sirmium, of the holy Martyrs Montanus the Priest and Maxima, who for the faith of Christ were drowned in a river. Comparing all these together, we conclude that by "sea" in Usuard and others, as often elsewhere, or a lake, is indicated a deep lake, from which water flowing down rolls into a nearby river: thus the Martyrs of Trier are said to have been cast into the sea, that is, a nearby lake, and the Salt Sea or Dead Sea in Palestine is called the Lake of Asphaltites or bitumen. Indeed among the Germans both lake and sea are translated into their language by the same words zee or mer, moer, more. Thus in Pannonia or present-day Hungary, the Lake of Sidler is called Sidlerzee: and the great sea or Ocean is likewise called zee: thus also in the city of Antwerp the principal square is called mera from the vaulted lake there, and in Flanders several lakes are named moeren. We therefore judge that these Martyrs were drowned in a lake near the city of Sirmium in Pannonia, adjoining the river or stream Save.

[3] There is also Firmium, a city of Italy in Picenum, which we have said elsewhere is not sufficiently distinguished from Sirmium in Pannonia through some slight error of a manuscript: thus here in the Barberini manuscript is read: wrongly ascribed to Firmium, a city of Italy, At Firmia, of Montanus the Priest and Maxima his wife, and in the Vatican of the church of St. Peter: At Firmium, of Montian the Priest and Maxima his wife. Perhaps Peter de Natalibus favors this, who in book 3 of his Catalogue, chapter 233, has this: Montanus the Priest and Maxima the Virgin suffered in the town of Furnium: who while confessing Christ the Lord with a living voice, were seized by unbelievers and bound with iron chains, both were drowned in the sea on the 7th day before the Kalends of April, as Jerome testifies in the Martyrology. We accept the testimony about the said day; but Maxima is called by him a wife. Whether she always lived with her husband in virginal continence, we do not read elsewhere, which at least is believed to have happened when he was ordained Priest.

[4] Because indeed the said Sirmium in Pannonia has been destroyed, and that region groans under Turkish tyranny, some Saints of this city have been transferred to Spain by those or to Sirmium or Sexti-Firmium in Baetica. who recently fabricated a Chronicle under the name of Flavius Dexter: in which at the year 100, number 5, these words are read: At Sirmium in Spain, the holy Martyrs Montanus the Priest and Maxima, most illustrious Martyrs of Christ. Rodrigo Caro in his Notes on Dexter, folio 22, asserts there was no Sirmium in Spain, and Tamayo de Salazar agrees at March 26, and they wish Sexti-Firmium to be substituted, and Tamayo adorns them with a long encomium and some added Acts, and establishes that they were crowned with martyrdom in the hundredth year under the Emperor Trajan: which, lacking proof, we are unwilling to reject at greater length. I refer the reader to what has been said on a similar topic on February 23 about St. Serenus who suffered at Sirmium in Pannonia.

[5] We add the forty companions or soldiers, whom from the principal Martyrologies of Jerome, Bede, and others we have shown suffered together: and Wandelbert confirms with this couplet: The seventh remembers Montanus with his holy wife, and at the same time suffering with the fortieth Martyr. We said above in the preceding class that Monatus or Monitnus, who is Montanus, is joined to various Saints whom we then treated. Whether Jocundus should be joined, Of the others we inquire here, and first in the Martyrology of St. Jerome printed at Paris these words are read: The 7th before the Kalends of April. At Rome in the cemetery of the same on the Lavican Way, the birthday of St. Castula, of Syrmia. At Syrmia, of Munatus the Priest, Maxima his wife, Jocundus. Luke Dachery, who published that Martyrology, in the index considers both to be Saints, both Syrmia and Jocundus. But we fear that Syrmia was formed from the name of the following city, by the fault of the copyist, and therefore should be omitted. We would add Jocundus as a companion, were it not that above in the preceding class we treated of St. Jovinus, who is called by others Junius, Juninus, Juvinus — why not also Jocundus? Maurolycus adds another for us in these words: At Sirmium, a city of Pannonia, SS. Montanus the Priest, Demetrius the Deacon, or Demetrius the Deacon. and Maxima the Virgin, under Maximian drowned in the Save river under the Governor Probus. The same is read in Felicius. Galesinius adorns them with this eulogy: At Sirmium in Pannonia, of the holy Martyrs Montanus the Priest, Demetrius the Deacon, Maxima the Virgin, and forty others, who having completed the contest for the faith, were finally cast headlong into the Save river under the Emperor Diocletian, and were given the heavenly crown. Canisius follows Galesinius in the second edition of the German Martyrology, or whoever augmented it. After the Martyrology of Maurolycus there is added the Topography of the Holy Martyrs of Christ by Primus, Bishop and Theologian of Chalon, formerly composed in the year 1450, in which under the entry Sirmium these words are read: Here Irenaeus the Bishop with Montanus the Priest and Demetrius the Deacon, under the Emperor Maximian and the Prefect Probus, are Martyrs at the Save river. The Acts of St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium, killed under the Governor Probus of Maximian, we illustrated from Greek and Latin manuscripts on the preceding day, March 25. Perhaps similar accounts of these Martyrs existed which have not yet been found. Seven Virgins who suffered at Sirmium are venerated on April 9, to whom are joined in the distinguished Barberini and Tournai manuscripts of St. Martin, Demetrius the Deacon, Hilarius, and Concessus: who in the first place are celebrated as having suffered in Sirmia in the very ancient Martyrologies of Reichenau and Rhinow. Therefore we omit St. Demetrius here, who is joined to others, and will treat of him on the said April 9.