African Martyrs

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS

QUINTIANUS, ELEUTHERIUS, OR HELEOTHERUS, GAGUS, ALEXANDER, AND SATURNINUS.

Quintianus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Eleutherius, or Heliotherus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Gagus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Alexander, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

G. H.

The Epternac transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which from the beginning of January we have produced as our own, after the related Apostles Philip and James, presently subjoins this class of Martyrs in these words: In Africa of Quintianus, Eleutherius, Gagus, Alexander, Saturninus. The old MS. of the monastery of Reichenau or Augia the rich near Constance in Swabia, two of them thus adduces: In Africa of Quintianus, Eleutherius. In the Helvetic MS. of Rheinau I only read, In Africa of Quintus, for Quintianus. In the Lucca, Corbie and Blumian transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology, all the aforesaid, the place being omitted, are in some manner adjoined to the Apostles Philip and James, and are thus expressed: Of Quintianus, Heleotherus, Gagus, or Gajus, Alexander, Saturninus. The origin of the error, that the palaestra of martyrdom Africa is omitted, seems to be attributed to the fault of the copyists, through which Hierapolis, where St. Philip suffered, not to Asia, as it ought, but to Africa was ascribed. In the Auctarium of Greven to Usuard is referred on the day May IV St. Quintianus, whom we think to be this one. In the Hibernian MS. of the monastery of Tallaght are mentioned, Quintianus, Eleutherius, Alexander, Saturninus and Gajus, with great consent of the other transcripts. That the name Gagus is the same as Cajus could be shown by very many examples, were they not everywhere obvious throughout this whole work. That Eleutherius or Eleutherus is properly to be written, who by a superfluous aspiration and a more barbarous diphthong in several MSS.

is called Heleotherus no one will doubt, who knows the use of the Greek word, denoting liberty. Of the place, time, and kind of martyrdom we can propose nothing definitely or even by conjecture, in the silence and defect of the ancient writers.