ON SS. MATTHEW AND PRIMUS
MARTYRS AT TARENTUM IN CALABRIA.
CommentaryMatthaeus, Martyr, at Tarentum in Calabria (S.)
Primus, Martyr, at Tarentum in Calabria (S.)
G. H.
Tarentum, the most ancient and most noble city of Magna Graecia, now Calabria, and of the territory of the Salentini, among many Saints had these two Martyrs, less commonly known: whom we give from a Ms. Martyrology of Ado, formerly augmented at Brescia, which belonged to the Church of Toulon in Provence, found by us among the MSS. codices of the Queen of Sweden, written at the very least six hundred years ago. In this these things are read: And on this day, in the city of Tarentum, of the holy Matthew and Primus. Both, but the place not indicated, are mentioned in the MS. Martyrology of the Church of Aachen and in Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard, printed in the year MDXV and MDXXI. Matthew is in MS. Tamlactense. Of Primus mention is made in the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology of Echternach and Lucca, immediately after the mentioned Matthew Apostle and Evangelist: so that on this account it can be doubted, whether from this another Matthew should be set, Martyr and Companion of Primus. With this admonition premised them here we propose, leaving the undecided question to further examination by the Tarentines themselves. Perhaps the most recent writer of the Tarentine history, Fr. Ambrosius of Tarento Augustinian, has further found something concerning either or both of them, which deserves to be inserted in the Supplement to be made later: for it has not yet been allowed us to see his history, nor with the author himself was it scarcely well begun before these few years a literary exchange to be pursued; with no other apparent likely cause for him, who first had hailed us, than death, which we fear, having prematurely snatched him away, has prevented the satisfying of his promises and our requests. But if of these Saints, as belonging to his subject, no notice came to Ambrosius, and he himself has now died; I beg that in his stead some other citizen, roused by this our indication, contribute some care and study to this inquiry, to amplify the glories of the homeland, and to restore by postliminy the cult of the ancient Patrons, to the greater glory of God to be honored in His Saints.