Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

APOLLONIUS AND EUPHEMIUS.

Apollonius, Martyr (S.)

Euphemius, Martyr (S.)

G. H.

To the related African Martyrs is subjoined in four transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology this pair of Martyrs, with no place added, in these words: And elsewhere of Apollonius, Euphemius, or Eufemus. Hitherto several Apollonius Martyrs have been given, but no Euphemius, as far as we recollect. There are some in the feminine sex, Euphemiae, as the reader from the Indexes of the Martyrologies can investigate and know. Apollonius is mentioned in the MS. of Tallaght. What if Euphemius joined to this one be Euphebius, or Ephebus, and both together with Proculus related on February XV, as having suffered at Interamna, here again be referred on the occasion of the Martyrs of Interamna presently to be related?

ON SS. PROCULUS, PELESTUS, AGAPITUS, AND THE THIRTY-THREE OR FOUR SOLDIERS,

MARTYRS AT INTERAMNA IN UMBRIA.

Proculus, Martyr at Interamna in Umbria (S.)

Pelestus, Martyr at Interamna in Umbria (S.)

Agapitus, Martyr at Interamna in Umbria (S.)

The XXXIII or XXXIV Soldiers, Martyrs at Interamna in Umbria (SS.)

G. H.

Interamna, an ancient and Episcopal city of Umbria, has several Saints, made Martyrs for the faith of Christ: among whom we have already intimated, commemorated by us on the day February XV, SS. Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius: besides these a greater number of the Martyrs of Interamna, under the same or another leader Proculus, exhibits the Corbie transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris, under this form of words: At Interamna at the sixty-fourth milestone of Proculus, Pelestus, Agapitus and the thirty-three soldiers. Which same things are in the Lucca and Blumian transcripts, but the miles or milestones are noted 63. In the Epternac transcript, by the fault of the copyists, it is thus corruptly read: And at Interamna of soldiers 23 (read at the milestone 63) of Proculus, Felistus, Agapitus and the soldiers 34. Who to the others is indicated leader, Proculus, Agapitus and Felestinus are mentioned with the soldiers 26 in the Hibernian MS. of Tallaght, likewise without the soldiers Proculus alone in the MS. Martyrology of the Church of Aachen and the Auctarium of Greven to Usuard; but with another companion adjoined in these words: Likewise of the holy Ammon the Martyr and Proculus. The former of them perhaps is Ammon the monk, who with others on this day is related by Saussay and Menard in the Gallican and Benedictine Martyrology.

ON ST. QUINTINUS OR QUINTIANUS,

MARTYR IN THE EAST.

Quintinus or Quintianus, Martyr in the East (S.)

G. H.

The four transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology, above mentioned by us, celebrate this holy Martyr, but after the usual manner in these few words: In the East of Quintinus: but in the Epternac copy is written Quintianus. In the Reichenau MS. is read In the East, but Quintinus being omitted, is added of Matthew the Apostle. Of this among the Things passed over we have treated. In the monastery of Tallaght is referred Quintinianus with others 23. Whom companions we omit to indicate in the title, not daring sufficiently to trust that one MS.

ON ST. SATURNINA OR SATURNINUS,

MARTYR AT MÉRIDA IN SPAIN.

Saturnina or Saturninus, Martyr at Mérida in Spain (S.)

G. H.

Mérida, once the most illustrious and ample of the Spanish cities, supplies us on this day the sacred veneration of some Saint, but of what kind you would say, whether man or woman, is not sufficiently clear. The most ancient transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which belongs to the Epternac, has these things: In the city of Mérida the birthday of Saturnina. The Blumian MS. agrees. But on the contrary two other transcripts of the same Martyrology, namely the Lucca and the Corbie printed at Paris, thus have: At Mérida the birthday of St. Saturninus. The Spaniards with Tamayus Salazar are silent: because they had not knowledge of these ancient Martyrologies.

ON SAINT SABAS,

MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.

Sabas Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)

G. H.

The ancient MS. Menaea, which we found preserved at Dijon with Peter Francis of the Society of Jesus in the year 1662, refer at these Kalends of May St. Sabas, hung by his fingers on a fig tree, and so having ended his glorious life, and add this distich.

Ἤνεγκε καρπὸν πρωἳμενης συκῆς Κλάδος τὸν χειροδεσμοῖς ἐκκρεμαμενον Σάβαν.

The branch of an early-ripening fig brought forth fruit, Sabas hung from his bound hands.