CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS THEODORE THE BISHOP, IRENAEUS THE DEACON, SERAPION AND AMMONIUS THE LECTORS, IN THE PENTAPOLIS OF LIBYA.
CommentaryTheodore, Bishop, Martyr in the Pentapolis of Libya (St.)
Irenaeus, Deacon, Martyr in the Pentapolis of Libya (St.)
Serapion, Lector, Martyr in the Pentapolis of Libya (St.)
Ammonius, Lector, Martyr in the Pentapolis of Libya (St.)
[1] The name of Pentapolis has been given to several places: of these there is a Pentapolis in Italy containing the cities of Ravenna, Caesena, Classis, Forum Livii, and Forum Pompilii: as was said on February 13 in the Life of Pope St. Gregory II, chapter 3. Another Pentapolis is called the Dead Sea on account of Sodom and Gomorrah and three other cities submerged by divine indignation, the Pentapolis, a region of Libya. as the Acts of Pionius the Priest testify on the Kalends of February, page 43, number 5. By the same name in the Life of St. John the Almsgiver on January 23, chapter 3, is called the Port of Alexandria or naval station, perhaps established by Pentapolitans of Libya trading there. Now according to Ptolemy of Alexandria, Libya is threefold: outer Libya near Egypt, Marmarica, and Cyrenaica, which others call upper: the outermost part of this toward the Libyan Sea is called the Pentapolis, perhaps from five principal cities. To this place our very ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome assigns these Martyrs in these words: In the Pentapolis of Libya, of Theodore the Bishop, Herenus the Deacon, Serapion and Ammonius, Lectors. Sacred cultus of the Martyrs: Usuard begins this day with these Martyrs: In the Pentapolis of Libya, the birthday of SS. Theodore the Bishop, Hirenaeus the Deacon, Serapion and Ammonius, Lectors. The same is found in Ado, Notker, the printed Bede, the Centula, Vallicella, Utrecht, and very many other manuscripts. In some, Theodore is called Theodolus, Theodericus, Theoricus. In place of Irenaeus is also written Hyrenaeus, Hirenaeus, Hirinus, Hirmus. Thus in place of Ammonius is substituted the name Ammon, Ammomi, Ammoni, Amon. names variously written, Serapion is everywhere written in the same way, but in place of "Lectors" also "Lector" in the singular is read. In some only Theodore is mentioned, in others he is omitted and the remaining three are named: in some Ammonius is omitted, as is the assigned place. The present Roman Martyrology celebrates them thus: In the Pentapolis of Libya, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Theodore the Bishop, Irenaeus the Deacon, Serapion and Ammonius, Lectors. The Tamlacht manuscript makes mention of Theodosius, Jerenus the Deacon, Serapion and Ammonius. The Brussels manuscript of St. Gudula celebrates these Martyrs on March 27. Saussay in the Gallic Martyrology on this day says: At Maclovium, the memory of the holy Martyrs Irenaeus the Deacon and Serapion the Lector. We have the Proper Offices of the Church of Maclovium, but without mention of these Saints. For the eulogy of these Saints, Galesinius indicates these few things: These, he says, having endured torments with incredible magnitude of Christian virtue for the glory of Christ, bore the crown of martyrdom. time of Martyrdom: Concerning the time of their martyrdom, in the Topography of the Holy Martyrs of Christ, written by Maurolycus more than two hundred years ago, the persecution stirred up under Diocletian is assigned, when around the time of the Lord's Passion churches were leveled to the ground, and all the Bishops of the Churches everywhere were first cast into chains, then forced by various means to sacrifice.
[2] These are the things worthy of note that we were able to obtain about these Saints. In the Pseudo-Chronicle of Flavius Dexter at the year of Christ 71, these words are produced as if said about these Saints: St. Theodore, the second Bishop of Caesaraugusta, preaching in the African Pentapolis with Irenaeus his Archdeacon and Serapion and Ammonius the Lector, is made a Martyr. whether St. Theodore was Bishop of Caesaraugusta. And not long after, his body was brought back to Spain, as Theodore himself had commanded, and lies near the sepulchre of St. James. There also exist poems under the name of M. Maximus about St. Theodore, the first Archpriest of St. Athanasius, also addressed to the first Bishops of Caesaraugusta, Athanasius and Epitectus, and the Archpriest Theodore and his companion Martyrs. Those who desire more about these may consult Francis Bivarius in his Commentaries on Dexter and Maximus, also the Notes of Rodrigo Caro and the Spanish Martyrology of Tamayo de Salazar at March 24 and 26. Since we find nothing about these in approved authors, we refrain from dwelling longer on these matters, and if perhaps some other Theodore was among the first Bishops of Spain, we do not think he should immediately be admitted as this Pentapolitan Martyr of Libya.
[3] It may also be doubted whether these Saints are treated on April 6. Now in the Arras, These Martyrs listed on April 6. Tournai, and Liessies manuscripts these words are read for that day: In upper Libya, the birthday of SS. Theodore the Bishop, Irenaeus the Deacon and Serapion. In the manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, cited by Holstein in his Observations on the Roman Martyrology, these are found: Upper Libya, SS. Theodore the Bishop, Hirenaeus the Deacon and five others. Notker more clearly: In the Pentapolis of upper Libya, of St. Theodore the Bishop and many Martyrs. Elsewhere they are mixed with others, as will be stated on that day.