Hermogenes

Commentary

Hermogenes, Martyr in Asia (St.)

G. H.

The most ancient transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology,

which received from the monks of Echternach

we have long used as our own, on the V of the Nones of May

notes the Birthday of S. Hermogenes thus, that it places nothing

before or above it: three other less ancient ones place before

the discovery of the most holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and then

immediately subjoin this holy Martyr, of whom in the Mss.

of Lucca and Blum these things are read: In the Province of Asia, in

the city of Luminata, the Birthday of S. Hermogenes of the ancients.

Notker very much approaches these, writing thus: In Asia of S. Hermogenes

of the ancients; with those words omitted, in the city of Luminata;

for which in the Ms. of Corbie of the Hieronymian Martyrology,

printed at Paris, after the report of the Discovery of the Cross are placed

these words, the illuminated city, as if that pertained to Jerusalem:

then is added: And the birthday of S. Hermogenes. But

we scarcely doubt that by the error of the scribe the punctuation was depraved, and

one or another letter changed, and that a new sense ought

to be begun, In the city of Luminata. But here too we fear an error:

for what is the city of Luminata? Is it Limenis, or

Limenopolis? This is a city of Pisidia: but Pisidia seems

to be attributed to the Province of Asia, or to Asia properly so called, as it was

reduced into a Province by the Romans, while in the Notitia of the dignities

of the Empire all Lesser Asia or Anatolia is divided into ten Pontic,

and as many Asian dioceses, of which the fourth

is Pisidia. As Hermogenes is called

of the ancients; so also S. Thraseas Bishop on October V,

crowned with martyrdom at Smyrna, is called by Ado and Notker

one of the ancients, and various other Martyrs are named

of the ancients of S. Paul, or of the disciples of the Apostles. Which

same thing seems to be said of the aforesaid S. Hermogenes: who

therefore in the aforesaid transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology is placed

before S. Alexander and his companions who suffered under Trajan,

so that he too is to be reckoned to have come to the crown of martyrdom under this or rather

Domitian or other Emperors of the first century.

In the MS. Martyrologies of S. Udalric of Augsburg and the Parisian

of Labbe, these are joined: At Rome of Hermogenes,

Alexander, Eventius, and Theodulus, where the place Rome is to be transferred

to SS. Alexander and his companions.

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