Dioscorides

ON SAINT DIOSCORIDES

MARTYR AT SMYRNA IN IONIA.

Dioscorides Martyr, at Smyrna in Ionia (S.)

G. H.

[1] This holy Martyr the Greeks celebrate on this day XI May, and about him such elogium in the MS. Greek Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus is read. Elogium from the Menology of Basil the Emperor. This Martyr of Christ was from the city Smyrna. Since he was a Christian, he preached Christ with the highest confidence, and all who came to him in his name instructed: and many of the unbelievers from the inborn error, which they had received from their elders, calling away he baptized. Seized therefore by the idolaters, who could not bear to hear the faith of Christ so freely promulgated, he was beaten with scourges. Then bound he was delivered to the Governor; and by him interrogated, and professing himself Christian, tortured with many torments, he was thrust into prison, where for many days he endured grievous troubles. Afterwards led from the prison, again he was ordered to deny Christ: which when he refused, he was hung up and dreadfully beaten. When at last in the confession of Christ he persevered constant, by the Governor's

order he was killed. Thus in said Basil the Emperor's Menology. Another somewhat briefer elogium is contained in the MS. Synaxarium of Paris of the Society of Jesus, and other Menaea, and in the printed Menaea and other Mediolan MSS. of the Ambrosian library, and Parisian ones of Cardinal Mazarin, which is of this kind. This man was from Smyrna an illustrious city; who when he had been brought to the Governor of this city, and announced himself a Christian, bound he is enclosed in prison: and again interrogated and in the faith of Christ remaining constant, by the Governor's mandate is killed. In MS. Divion preserved with Chiflet, Dioscorus the younger he is called, and is said consummated by sword with this distich added:

To live by turn was the fable of Dioscoros, whether also under the name of Dioscorus the younger?

But Dioscorus, cut down, holds eternal life.

Allusion is made namely to that which about Castor and Pollux, sons of Jupiter, brothers of Helen by Leda, the Poets fable, in whom Virgil:

If Pollux redeemed his brother by alternate death.

And Martial,

For Pollux you move Castor that he not return.

For the rest I greatly suspect, that diverse are Dioscorides, of whom above, and that Junior Dioscorus: for everything fits him, who born among the Scenopolitans in Egypt or Arabia, under Diocletian made martyrdom beheaded, and on the XIII day of October in the Menaea is referred: when it will be permitted to seek for another older Dioscorus, in respect of whom the other is called Junior. Who however today is venerated, more rightly in the Menology of Sirletus is written Dioscorides, with somewhat abbreviated elogium from the Menaea. But with XI May omitted by error, with the Genethliac day of the city of Constantinople, and the elogium of S. Mocius the Martyr is referred to the day X May. By which error, as already said, led astray Baronius, the same Dioscorides on the said X May inscribed in the Roman Martyrology.

ON S. MONTANUS OR MONTANIANUS,

MARTYR AT SIRMIUM IN PANNONIA.

Montanus or Montanianus, Martyr at Sirmium in Pannonia (S.)

G. H.

We treated on XXVI March of Sirmium, the ancient Roman colony and metropolis of all Pannonia; on the occasion of SS. Montanus the Presbyter, S. Montanus is perhaps another from S. Montanus the Presbyter. Maxima the wife, and forty others, there in the river or deep lake plunged. Which here we wished indicated, because it seems possible to be controverted, whether perhaps that same one could be said to have on this day veneration, on account of some translation of the body or of relics. Meanwhile because he is here neither called Presbyter, nor has joined S. Maxima the wife or other companions, nor with them is delivered as submerged, rather we judge another, and indicate in four of the Hieronymian Martyrology's ancient apographs these things to be referred: At Sirmi, or Sirmia the birthday of S. Montanus. Which the same in MSS. Trier of S. Maximinus, and another Corbie very ancient are read, and with no place indicated in MSS. Prague, Roman Vallicellan of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory, and another of Duke Altempsius. In MSS. Richenovian and Rhinovian these things are had: In Sirmia the birthday of S. Montanianus: likewise, but with the arena omitted, in MSS. Augustan of S. Udalric and Parisian of Labbé, and Roman of the monastery of S. Cyriacus, which Baronius greatly used. In the Hibernian MS. of the monastery of Tamlacht is the name of Montanianus and of Montanus: as if they were diverse.

[2] plainly other than S. Montanus the Gallic monk. But S. Montanus the Confessor is mentioned in the Carmelite MS. which at Cologne is preserved: also in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in the year MCCCCXC, and in Greven's Auctary to Usuard. Here he is called a monk in MS. Florarium: about whom in MS. Usuard increased in Alsace these things are read: Likewise at Reims of S. Montanus the monk, formerly blind, by the milk of Elyma the mother of S. Benignus restored. But this from the former is plainly different, about whom we treat at length on XVII May.