ON SAINT DIOSCORIDES
MARTYR AT SMYRNA IN IONIA.
CommentaryDioscorides 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.