Timothy and VII Virgins

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.