ON SS. APHRODISIUS, MELDAS, MACROBIUS, VALERIANUS, LEONTIUS, ANTONINUS,
AND THE LX COMPANION MARTYRS AT SCYTHOPOLIS.
CommentaryAphrodisius, Martyr, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
Meldas, Martyr, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
Macrobius, Martyr, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
Valerianus, Martyr, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
Leontius, Martyr, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
Antoninus, at Scythopolis in Palestine (S.)
The LX Companions, Martyrs, at Scythopolis in Palestine
G. H.
Scythopolis, an ancient city of Palestine, on the shore of the lake of Genesaret to the south, near the outlet of the Jordan river, in Galilee, to Tiberias and Bethsaida neighboring, these Martyrs to Christ brought forth, in the MS. Greek Synaxarion of the College of Clermont of the Society of Jesus at Paris thus reported. On the same day IV of May the contest of the holy Martyrs Aphrodisius, Meldas, Macrobius, Valerianus, Leontius, Martyrdom, Antoninus and of a multitude of Saints, with these at Scythopolis martyrdom having suffered. Whose festivity is celebrated in the venerable Apostle-shrine of the holy and with excellent praise to be proclaimed James the brother of the Lord, established within the august edifice of the most holy immaculate Lady of ours the Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary in Chalcoprateia. the cult at Constantinople: Thus there. Built that temple Theodosius the Younger, and by an earthquake cast down it rebuilt Justin, from a Curopalates created Emperor, and besides to it immovable possessions bestowed, as teaches George Codinus on the Origins of Constantinople page 43 in the Louvre edition.
[2] The same of these Martyrs are narrated in the MS. Menaea of Chifflet: and is indicated in the adjoined verses that they partly by the sword slain died, partly through fire triumphed: the very verses these are. Who is this his neck stretching to the sword? The kind of Martyrdom Aphrodisius, Aphrodisius, he says. Who is that to the sword his neck extending, you ask? Aphrodisius answers, Aphrodisius I am called. Leontius and of the contest two companions, Like lions to the sword they ran. Leontius and of the contest two companions, As lions to the sword they ran. Meldas and Valerianus understand. To the other two of another kind a martyrdom, with fire consummated, thus to be ascribed seems: Above the heads of the Martyrs raised two, An athletic for them the fire as a roof was. The heads of two Martyrs above raised, An athletic roof the flame for them was.
[3] Perhaps neither simply by fire were they consummated: but above them in the manner of a vault miraculously gathered flames, The Acts lost as once in the Babylonian furnace for the three boys, to them not so much was for a torment as for a wrestling-ground, under whose ceiling they contended, secure from the injuries of the air, to which are exposed those fighting under the open sky. More and more certain things we should know, if there existed Acts, which to have existed once some to believe undoubtedly make the already alleged verses, with the argument thence taken composed. Of the same the Martyrdom is celebrated on the following day V of May in the MS. Menaea of Milan of the Ambrosian library and of Turin of the Duke of Savoy. Memory May 5 In the latter of these codices for Meldas, Valerianus and Antoninus are read, the names Medas, once also Melthas, Adrian and Antony, and the Companions of Scythopolis are indicated sixty.