ON SS. GERMANUS, CÆLESTINUS, SANTINA
MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA.
CommentaryGermanus, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
Cælestinus, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
Santina, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
G. H.
This is the fourth and last troop of Martyrs,
in the ancient transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology:
and indeed in the Echternach one written nearly
a thousand years ago these are read:
Likewise at Alexandria of Germanus, Cælestinus,
Scantina. They suffered at Alexandria. Where the particle likewise can separate these from
SS. Saturninus and Neopolus also suffering at Alexandria,
but in another year perhaps, yet on this same day. The said
particle likewise can also distinguish these two Germanus and Cælestinus
from other Martyrs of the same name, who
in the first class of this Martyrology with five other companions
are reckoned. In the MSS. of Lucca and Blumius, in place of Scantina,
is read Santina, and in the MS. of Corbie printed at Paris,
Santinus. In all which also are repeated the names
of Germanus and Cælestinus, although they had been in the first class
placed: by whose authority we also do the same. The MS.
of Aachen recalls Germanus, whether this be he, or another
above reported. Of SS. Germanus and Cælestinus wrongly
joined to SS. Secundinus and Neopolus suffering at Alexandria,
and at the same time by Galesinius ascribed to Rome in the second
class of these Martyrs, we have already treated.
[2] Tamayo Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology inscribed
St. Cælestinus, Martyr at Rome, as if he were a Spaniard:
and that by the authority of Julian Archpriest of Toledo; Whether Cælestinus, Martyr at Rome, is a Spaniard. in
whose Adversaria num. 5 these are read: In the Spains
the memory is famous of St. Cælestinus Martyr, who
suffered at Rome in the persecution of Julian the Apostate.
A man of Consular rank from Consular Bætica; a Spaniard
with others, at the time when John and Paul
were apprehended. He died in prison on the second day
of May a Martyr. In the Chronicle also of Dexter at the year 356
it is handed down that Olymphius Bishop of Toledo issued books,
which he inscribed to Cælestinus Consul
of Bætica, who afterward was a Martyr. But these books
we judge to have been fabricated in this seventeenth century, and the author of the Adversaria
of Julian to have followed Galesinius erring,
by whom also Baronius was led astray. The one who
is alleged by Tamayo, Ambrosio Morales, makes mention of letters
sent by the Emperor Constantius to Cælestinus,
but of his martyrdom is silent, which we desire to be better
proved, than from the pseudepigrapha of supposititious authors'
writings.