ON THE HOLY MARTYRS CYRIACUS, MAXIMUS, GRADUS, SOTHERES VIRGIN, ROTHERES, JOHN, ACHILLES, MOYSEUS, APHRODITUS, AND FOUR OTHER HUNDRED. LIKEWISE ALEXANDER, MOYSETES, LUCIUS, MORE PROBABLY HAVING SUFFERED AT ROME.
CommentaryCyriacus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Maximus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Gradus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Soteris, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Rotheres, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) John, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Achilles, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Moyseus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Aphroditus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Another LIV Martyrs, more probably all suffered at Rome Alexander, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Moysetes, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.) Lucius, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
After the related Roman Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus and Pancratius, are related the following Martyrs in four ancient apographs of the Martyrology Hieronymian, no indicated wrestling-place, so that they seem with probable conjecture also to have suffered at Rome, since nowhere that solemn phrase elsewhere is interposed: Whether they suffered at Rome, but there are expressed the names of Cyriacus, Maximus, Gradus, Sotheris Virgin, Rotheres, John, Achilles, Morseus, Afroditus, with others to the number five hundred four, whose names God knows. Of these Cyriacus and Maximus are in the most ancient Ms. of Echternach, are wanting in the other three. But Quiriacus and Maximus are in the Mss. of Tamlacht and Aachen, and at Grevenus in the Auctarium of Usuard. Nay also Quiriacus is in the Mss. of Reichenau and Rheinau. Instead of Gradus, in three apographs and in another of Corbie indicated, is in the Echternach one the name of Gnatus. Then in the Ms. of Blume and some of Corbie not yet printed there is made memory of Sotheris the Virgin and Rotheres, which name is wanting in the Corbie one printed at Paris. In the Lucca apograph is written Rotheres the Virgin and Soteris, as also in the Echternach one. But of Sotheris the Virgin make mention the Mss. of Reichenau, Rheinau and the Paris one of Labbe. Ado and Notker have the Passion of the most sacred Virgin Sotheris, of noble lineage under Diocletian Augustus. Concerning S. Sotheris a Roman Virgin received are these things from the Acts of S. Pancratius already produced: and concerning her more fully we treated on the X day of February; from whom whether here the related Sotheris is to be reckoned different, we cannot certainly assert. Among the following four companions, the names of John and Achilles or Achilleus are everywhere constant: but instead of Moises and Afroditus, is read also Moires or Mores, and Affroditus or Afrotus. In the Ms. of Reichenau is made mention of Quiriacus, Sotheris the Virgin, John, Moseus, Affiolus with others five hundred four. Notker, when of Sotheris, as we said, he had treated, adds these things: Likewise the passion of SS. John, Achilles, Moyseus, Aphroditus, with others to the number five hundred four. In the Ms. of Prague is celebrated the memory of SS. John, Achilles and Afroditus, with others DIII. Which same things are at Grevenus in the Auctarium, but the Companions DV are said. In the Ms. Florarium and the Ms. Ado of the monastery of St. Lawrence at Liège are named John and Achilles, with others five hundred six.
[2] others added After this number of Martyrs indicated are added the names of Alexander and Moysetes in four of the Martyrology Hieronymian's apographs, to which in the Ms. of Corbie printed at Paris is added Julius, whom also at Rome to have suffered judges Florentinius.
[3] Tamayus Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology of S. Soteris on this day these things has: The relics of some Soteris at Madrid. At Rome the birthday of S. Soteris Virgin and Martyr, whose sacred remains in the monastery of the nuns of the most holy Sacrament of Madrid honorifically are venerated and preserved. These things there without any in the Notes mention. Whence that the same be the Virgin and Martyr, who above is related, without foundation we would assert. In the Ms. of Tamlacht, besides Maximus and Cyriacus above indicated, are celebrated Gratius, Rotheres, Moysetes, John, Affroditus, Achilles, Alexander, in the title from others indicated; and Zefanus, perhaps instead of another added. Likewise CCCVI Martyrs, but who suffered with S. Cyriacus, who the Cross of the Lord found, concerning whom it was treated on the IV of May.