ON SS. EUTHYMIUS DEACON, LIKEWISE PETIVUS OR PETER DEACON,
MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA.
CommentaryEuthymius, Deacon, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
Petivus, or Peter, Deacon, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)
G. H.
Various things are recorded about these Saints: and first the apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology thus inaugurate this day: On the third of the Nones of May Of Euthymius the Deacon and Martyr. Euthymius the Deacon. The MS. Blumianum at the end of the preceding day had reported the same. Truly, on this day, with the said words has him another ancient Corbeian MS., with no place of Martyrdom assigned, which in the MSS. Richenoviensis, Rhinoviensis, Carmelitan of Cologne, and others is named Alexandria. The same is indicated in Usuard, Ado, Notker, and in many MSS. with these words: At Alexandria of S. Eutymius the Deacon resting in prison. Martyr at Alexandria. Which are confirmed by Bellinus and Maurolycus and the present-day Roman Martyrology. With Ado alone cited Petrus de Natalibus composed this encomium book 4 chapter 132. Eutimus the Deacon and Martyr at the city of Alexandria, for the faith of Christ by infidels rivaling Christianity detained, and long ago in a prison-pit constrained with chains, and by hunger macerated, in confession sent forth his spirit on the III Nones of May. Galesinius adds the time and other circumstances in this manner: At Alexandria in Egypt of S. Euthymius the Deacon. He in the same Diocletian persecution thrust into prison for Christ, there worn out by the squalor, hunger and severity of custody, more vehemently confirmed in the confession of the faith, rendered up his soul to God. In the Notes he alleges the year from the birth of Christ CCCV, with Constantius V and Maximian V being Consuls, from a MS. and Usuard. Florentinius frequently observes in his Notations on the Hieronymian Martyrology, that the codex MS. usually cited by Galesinius, often errs and deceives; or certainly that he himself from conjecture adds many things about the time, place or other circumstances. In the MS. Tamlactense are had the names of Eutemus and Entimus, which seem to be supposed for the same.
[2] In the MS. Vallicellanum of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome, and in another Vatican of S. Peter is thus read: At Alexandria of S. Anthimus the Deacon, By others called Anthymus. and is added in the MS. Patricianum, found at Naples among the collectanea of Antonius Caraccioli, resting in prison. Which things are to be understood of one and the same Martyr Deacon, by others Euthymius, also Eutimus, there Anthimus, as also when in other MSS. is written Eufanus and Eufemus.
[3] Another Deacon Martyr is suggested in the MS. codices of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Likewise Petivus the Deacon. when after S. Euthymius the Deacon, indicated without place of martyrdom, and another two bands of Martyrs being interposed, of whom we shall treat soon, these things are handed down in the Lucensian, Corbeian and Blumian MSS. At Alexandria of Petivus the Deacon. Which also are read in the MS. Barberinianum. But a bare mention of Petivus is had in Grevenus and in the MSS. Aquisgranensis and Parisiensis of Labbeus. By others Peter But in place of Petivus, is read the name of Peter the Deacon, in the MSS. Epternacensis and Augustanus and the Calendar of Aquileia. In the MS. Tamlactensis is reported Petivus and Peter. Whether each was crowned at Alexandria, let the reader judge. We just as we found, so also propose.