Dimidrianus

ON SAINT DIMIDRIANUS, BISHOP OF VERONA IN ITALY.

3RD CENTURY

Dimidrianus, Bishop of Verona in Italy (S.)

G. H.

[1] Among the XXXVI holy Bishops of Verona, whom according to the custom of the Cathedral Church the Table of the Saints, made in the year 1518, indicates to be celebrated with a Double Office. That on these Ides of May S. Dimidrianus is venerated, Francis Corna also testifies in the book which he wrote in plain and native speech in the year 1477. But that his sacred body, with the Relics of several other holy Bishops, is preserved in the church of S. Stephen the Protomartyr, now Parochial, formerly (as is commonly believed) Cathedral, is established from the ancient parchment Table hung in the sacristy of the said church. Which things being set forth, Augustine Valerius, Bishop of that same Church of Verona, adds that eulogy of his Life.

[2] kindly toward his own: Dimidrianus, Bishop of Verona, was held in his times as a model of Episcopal virtues, and was plainly called a divine man, because he never ceased to profit men by various kinds of virtues: with great charity he joined excellent doctrine. He died on the Ides of May: his body's sepulchre is in the basilica of S. Stephen. Thus there. Some of his Relics are with the nuns in the monastery or church of S. Mary Magdalene. Ferrarius celebrates the same S. Dimidrianus in the General Catalogue and in another of the Saints of Italy, but nothing is found among these writers of the time in which he flourished. Onuphrius Panvinius in book 4 of the Veronese Antiquities, chapter 7, reckons S. Dimidrianus among the ancient Bishops, as if he had lived in the third century of Christ: his time of the See. and therefore Ughellus in the Bishops of Verona, and John Francis Tinti in book 5 of the Veronese Nobility, chapter 9, number him the seventh Bishop, asserting that Dimidrianus died on the XV of May of the year of Christ 265, the 29th of his See, and was buried in the church of S. Stephen. Nicholas Brautius, Bishop of Sarsina, in his Metric Martyrology, honors him with this distich:

Dimidrianus the Bishop was ever ready, gratefully, To bring friendly help to all.

ON SS. CASSIUS, VICTORINUS, MAXIMUS, AND SIX THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED, SIXTY-SIX MARTYRS AT CLERMONT IN GAUL.

ABOUT 264.

Cassius, Martyr at Clermont in Gaul (S.)

Victorinus, Martyr at Clermont in Gaul (S.)

Maximus, Martyr at Clermont in Gaul (S.)

6,266 Martyrs at Clermont in Gaul

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] Gregory of Tours in book I of the History of the Franks, chapters 30 and 31, about to treat of these Saints, premises these things: In the thirty-seventh place Valerian and Gallienus obtained the Roman Empire, who in their time stirred up a grave persecution against the Christians. In their time also that Chrocus, King of the Alamanni, Under King Chrocus laying waste Auvergne, his army being set in motion, roamed through the Gauls… But coming to the Arvernians he burned, demolished and overturned that shrine which in the Gallic tongue they call Vasso Galatae… Near this city the Martyrs Liminius and Antolianus rest. That is, slain in that persecution of Chrocus, as we have at length said on their birthday, S. Cassius is crowned, and S. Victorinus converted by him Antolianus indeed on February VI, but Liminius on March XXIX. Which things being related, the Turonensian proceeds: There Cassius and Victorinus, in the love of Christ joined by brotherly affection, through the shedding of their own blood obtained alike the kingdoms of heaven. For antiquity relates that Victorinus was the slave of the Priest of the aforesaid temple. Who, while he frequently goes to the village which they call the Christians', to persecute the Christians, finds Cassius a Christian: by whose preachings and miracles moved, he believed in Christ, and the fanatical filth being left, and consecrated by baptism, he shone forth great in the working of virtues. And not long after, through martyrdom, as we have said, joined on earth, they migrated alike to the heavenly kingdoms. Thus S. Gregory of Tours.

[2] That a basilica was erected to this S. Cassius by the Christians we gather from the same Turonensian, while he asserts in book 4, chapter 12, their basilica. that by Cautinus, a most wicked Bishop, Anastasius the Presbyter was buried alive at the basilica of S. Cassius the Martyr, in a most ancient and most hidden crypt, in a great sepulchre of Parian marble, and was wonderfully freed. Which things described from the Turonensian, Aimoinus also relates in book 2, chapter 36. John Savaro, President and Prefect of Auvergne, published a treatise on the holy churches and monasteries of Clermont by an anonymous author, whom he judges to have flourished about the year 950, in which, in book I, chapter 9, these things are read: In the church of S. Cassius the altar of S. Peter: the altar of S. Julian, the bodies at Clermont where S. Cassius, and S. Victorinus, and S. Leogontia and S. Georgia rest. The Acts of S. Georgia, a Virgin devoted to God, we gave on February XV. The birthday of S. Leogontia has hitherto been unknown, and therefore by Saussay was cast into the Appendix. But by Arturus in the Sacred Gynaeceum she is commemorated on this day, and in the Illidian Table she is called a Virgin. Julian the Martyr is venerated under Diocletian on August XXVIII, whether he be treated of here, then it will have to be inquired. In the Ritual book of S. Illidius cited by Savaro, chapter 5, these things are enjoined: When we go to the processions, we make a commendation of the Saints, before whose churches we pass through. And so in the procession of the second day of the Rogations one proceeds to the church of S. Bonitus, making a commendation of S. John the Baptist, S. Peter, S. Hilary, S. Cassius, S. Christopher. The Acts, moreover, of S. Bonitus the Bishop we gave on January XV, and of S. Illidius also the Bishop we are to give on July VII.

[3] The MS. Martyrology of Chambéry in Savoy of the monastery of the Conventuals, memory in the Calendar, on the V day of May recalls these Martyrs in this phrase: At Auvergne SS. Cassius and Victorinus. But the old Calendars and the Martyrology of Clermont add the Companions in this manner: At Auvergne the birthday of SS. Cassius and Victorinus Martyrs, as of 6266 Martyrs, with six thousand two hundred sixty-six others. Molanus adds Maximus. At Auvergne of the holy Martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus and their Companions, whose Acts S. Praejectus the Bishop wrote, and of S. Maximus, Molanus being cited, the same three are inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology; and Gregory of Tours being alleged they are commemorated by Galesinius, but no mention is made by him of Maximus: whom Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology separates from the others, and adds to him two in this manner: At Clermont of the Arvernians the birthday of SS. Cassius and Victorinus, with a eulogy in Saussay, who in the love of Christ joined by brotherly affection through the shedding of their own blood obtained alike the kingdoms of heaven. With whom Maximus, Anatholianus and Austremonius, and six thousand two hundred sixty-three others (whose names God knows) by this savage

slaughter laid low, in an illustrious contest for the faith and glory of Christ, sundered neither in spirit nor in body, fell. Whose memorable trophies B. Praejectus the Bishop consigned to the monuments of letters. But the sacred bodies (partly in the place where now the church of S. Cassius is seen, partly where afterwards the temple of S. Venerandus was constructed) buried together, God adorned and glorified with marvelous tokens of the glory wherewith He crowned the blessed spirits of these in heaven. Thus Saussay.

[4] But from these we separate S. Antolianus, commemorated on February VI, and S. Austremonius, to be referred to the Kalends of November. But S. Maximus, already joined to Cassius and Victorinus in the Calendar of the Roman Church, we so leave, that, if so it seem to the reader, the number of the anonymous companions may be reckoned less by this one named. The Author concerning the Churches of Clermont mentions these in chapter 10 of the first book in these words: In the church of S. Venerandus, the altar of S. Julian, and of S. Basilica of Antioch, the bodies of the additional Martyrs in the church of S. Venerandus. the altar of S. Quintinus and S. Dionysius, the altar of S. Mary, where S. Venerandus, and S. Linguinus, and S. Nepotianus, and S. Avitus, and S. Clara, and six thousand two hundred others rest in the body, whose names God knows. Thus there, the lesser number Sixty-six of the additional ones being omitted. Gregory of Tours, in the Glory of the Confessors, chapters 35 and 36, mentions the Basilica and Venerandus. There are there, he says, men of illustrious merits, whose names unknown to the inhabitants, yet written, as we believe, are retained in heaven. The Acts of S. Venerandus we gave on January XVIII, and SS. Julian and Basilissa, Married Martyrs, to whom the first altar was consecrated, we illustrated on the IX day of January. Of S. Linguinus we treated on March XXIX, and whether he ought to be distinguished from S. Liminius we doubt. But there were two holy Bishops of Clermont named Avitus, of whom the elder is venerated on September XX, the younger on January XXI. The names of Nepotianus and Clara Saussay cast into the Appendix, because their birthday is unknown.

[5] The Acts written by S. Praejectus are not extant, We gave on January XXV double Acts of S. Praejectus, Bishop of Clermont and Martyr, and in the latter at number 9 these things are read: He elaborated in glorious style the Passions of the Martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Anatolianus and Astrebodius (by others Austremonius) and of the other Saints, who in that same city shed their blood for Christ. But hitherto we have not been able to obtain those Acts: but the Passion of SS. Cassius and Victorinus which our Peter Francis Chifletius sent to us, is assuredly of small moment: for since in them mention is made of Charles the Bald and Louis, Kings of the Franks, who lived nearly two hundred years after the slaughter of S. Praejectus, Praejectus could not have written it. There are, moreover, in it most things taken from Gregory of Tours and approved above: we have others, but here unworthy to be published, others are transcribed from the Acts of S. Desiderius, Bishop of Langres and Martyr, slain under the same King Chrocus, which we elucidate on the XXIII day of May: others finally are read added concerning the first Apostolic men of the Gauls, as if these had been sent by S. Peter, whom others refer to the third century of Christ, and that on the occasion of S. Austremonius added to them, who in these Acts is said to have turned aside for the sake of lodging to the house of a certain man, adorned with the splendor of birth, named Cassius. [in these S. Cassius is said to have been freed from leprosy and made a Presbyter,] But this man was struck with the elephantine disease together with his brothers to such a degree that they disfigured their faces: and B. Austremonius, having delivered them from that languor, ordered them to accompany him… and adorned B. Cassius with the dignity of the Presbyterate, and led him with him as far as the Arvernian city: to whom moreover he committed the care of his Church, and constituted him as it were his Vicar and the heir of his virtues. Thus there: which things could truly have happened, if S. Austremonius with the other Apostolic men be said to have been sent by S. Sixtus II the Pope into the Gauls, but of the Presbyterate of S. Cassius, or even of the elephantine disease, we read nothing elsewhere. Meanwhile from these Acts James Branche published much in the Saints of Auvergne. In the monastery of Manglieu, in the Clermont diocese of the Order of S. Benedict, worship on May 19, that SS. Cassius and Victorinus Martyrs are venerated on the XIX day of May we gathered from the MS. Usuard, augmented for the use of the Priory of Chanteuges.

ON S. TIMOTHY AND VII VIRGINS, MARTYRS AT SIRMIUM IN PANNONIA.

Timothy, Martyr at Sirmium in Pannonia (S.)

VII Virgins, Martyrs at Sirmium in Pannonia

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] Sirmium, formerly the metropolis of lower Pannonia, often mentioned by us, brought forth very many Martyrs to Christ: among whom on this day there occur in the most ancient Epternach copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, indicated in the first place, these Saints in these words: 7 Virgins joined to S. Timothy, On the Ides of May. At Sirmium the birthday of Timothy and VII Virgins. Which exactly the same are read in the ancient MSS. of Reichenau or rich Augia near Constance in Suevia, of Rheinau in Helvetia, and in the MS. Calendar of Treves of S. Maximinus. Rabanus in his Martyrology has these things: At Sirmium the birthday of S. Timothy and VI Virgins. Where a fault of the numeral mark has crept in, which we have noted often happens very easily in this Work. The Author of the Martyrology, hitherto separately and among the printed works under the name of Bede, on the following day, XVI of May, has these things: At Sirmium the birthday of Timothy and seven Virgins. Which place of the supposititious Bede Galesinius cites and follows.

[2] Concerning these two things occur controverted, the first that in three copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, by others separated. as also in the Roman MSS. of the Queen of Sweden and of Cardinal Barberini, it is read thus. On the Ides of May at Sirmium of Timothy: and elsewhere of VII Virgins. Likewise that in the Corbie and Liège MSS. of S. Lambert mention is made of Timothy only; as also, but no contest being added, in the MSS. of Aachen, of Augsburg of S. Udalric, of Paris of Labbé and another of the monastery of S. Cyriacus. But in these last several Martyrs are joined pertaining to the following classes. In the former there is a transposition of the particle "elsewhere," which in the most ancient Epternach MS. pertains to the following Martyrs, of whom we shall soon treat. The other doubt is whether of these holy Virgins it was not treated on April IX, when Usuard has these things: At Sirmium of seven Canonical Virgins, Other Virgins of Sirmium slain April 9. who, the price of their blood being given together, purchased eternal life. But Rabanus on the same day treats of them, and again on this day joins the seven Virgins to Timothy, which we too do without any prejudice, until something more certain be brought forth from other ancient monuments. In the ancient MS. of Treves of S. Maximinus it is read, At Sirmium of Victor: but we suspect there is a gap, and that it should be read, At Sirmium of Timothy, and at the Roman Port of Victor, of whom we shall treat below. In the MS. of Tallaght mention is made of Timothy and seven Virgins, but these are joined to S. Cotia, who pertains to the following class.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

ALEXANDER, DIGNUS, CHOTTIA, OR CHOTIDIA.

Alexander, Martyr (S.)

Dignus, Martyr (S.)

Chottia, or Chotidia, Martyr (S.)

G. H.

Another troop of three Martyrs in the ancient Epternach copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, after S. Timothy and the seven Virgins who suffered at Sirmium, is thus set forth: And elsewhere of Alexander, Dignus, Chottia. But, as we admonished above, in the other three copies the particle "elsewhere" is placed before the seven Virgins: and in the Corbie MS. printed at Paris in this manner: At Sirmium of Timothy, and elsewhere of seven Virgins, Alexander, Dignus, Chottia. In the Lucca codex in place of Chottia is Chotitia, and in the Blumian MS. Chotidia. But of the seven Virgins we treated above with S. Timothy. S. Dignus is mentioned in the MSS. of Augsburg of S. Udalric, and of Paris of Labbé, for whom in the Aachen MS. Digna is found. In the Tallaght MS. the names of SS. Alexander, Dignus, and Cotia are indicated.