ON SS. DEMETRIUS, DANAX, DONATUS, THERINUS, MESEERA, BARBARUS AND COMPANIONS.
MARTYRS HONORED AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
CommentaryDemetrius, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Danax, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Donatus, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Therinus, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Meseera, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Barbatus, Martyr, honored at Constantinople (S.)
Companions, Martyrs, honored at Constantinople
G. H.
The ancient MS. Menaea, which we examined at Milan in the Ambrosian Library, and at Turin among the books of the Duke of Savoy, on the sixth of May use these words: On the same day of the holy Martyrs of Christ Demetrius, Cult at Constantinople. Danax, Donatus, Therinus, Meseera and his companions. To which in the MS. Greek Synaxarium of the Constantinopolitan Church, which we have at Paris on loan from the Clermont college of the Society of Jesus, these are added: The festival of their feast is celebrated in their martyry, or chapel, in Deuteron, which is a region of the city of Constantinople so called, because in it some Emperor previously cast from the throne began to reign for the second time. In the MS. Menaea, which at Dijon with Pierre-François Chiflet we found preserved, some distichs are added. And first concerning S. Demetrius, who there is called Demetrion, S. Demetrius killed by darts, is had this, from which he is understood to have been killed by darts.
Βέλη, τὰ τιτρώσκοντα σάρκα καιρίως, Δημητρίων ἡγεῖτο βέλη νηπίων.
The darts which wound the flesh with sure blows, Demetrion thought were children's darts.
Danax and 2 others by swords, Then are added Saints Danax, Therianus, above Therinus, and Mesirus, above Meseera, who, slain by the sword, are crowned, with this distich.
Ἀμφοῖν ἀθλητῶν ἐκκεκομμένων κάρας Κεῖται Μεσίρος ἐν μέσῳ κάρας δίχα.
The heads of two lesser pugilists lie cut off, Without head Mesirus holds the middle place.
Donatus by darts, Afterwards is joined S. Donatus pierced by darts, and is honored with these verses.
Ἄλλος ξένος τις ἥλιός μοι Δονάτος Σαρκὸς προσέχων ἀκτίνων δίκην βέλη.
Another sun is mine, but a strange sun, Donatus, Holding fixed in flesh darts in the manner of rays.
At length, who in the Ambrosian and Savoyard Menaea is referred to the previous day, and on the VIII of this May in MS. Synaxarium is added, Barbarus by sword. S. Barbarus the Martyr, slain by the sword is signified by this distich.
Τὲν κλῆσιν εἶ μὲν Βάρβαρος σὺ, γεννάδα Οὐδ᾽ ὀ τιμῶν σε βάρβαρος τὴν καρδίαν.
By name indeed you are Barbarus: but he who honors you As a brave athlete, is not barbarous in mind.
That this last also belongs to the rest is clear from the conclusion, when it is indicated that their festival is celebrated in their martyry, in Deuteron. Are referred on the day XXIII of April SS. Glycerius, Donatus and Therinus the Martyrs, whom we said seem to have been converted by S. George, Some of the same name referred on April 23 and 24. and to have suffered with him on that day. Hence on day XXIV of April are venerated SS. Eusebius, Neon, Leontius, Longinus and four others at Nicomedia converted by S. George, and after various torments beheaded with sacred heads. To them in the double MS. Turin are joined Demetrius, Danamus, Donatus, Therinus, Nestamus, whom there we omitted, if perhaps they were Demetrius, Danax, Donatus, Therinus and Meseera, here in the same Turin codex referred: which to have indicated suffices, however long their Acts lie hidden, which once existed, from such a distinct knowledge of the martyrdom borne by each it is certain to us. Yet not all suffered in the same place or time: but rather from a common place of cult within the city of Constantinople, they obtained at the same time a common day of annual veneration.