ON SS. EPICTITUS OR EPITACIUS, APTONUS, BASILIUS, AND ANOTHER APTONUS, MARTYRS IN SPAIN.
CRITICAL COMMENTARY.
On the knowledge of names in the Martyrologies, the Episcopate attributed to one of the three former, various figments concerning S. Epitacius.
Epictitus or Epitacius, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Apton, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Basilas, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Apton the other, Martyr in Spain (S.)
BY G. H.
Many things concerning these Saints are intricate: that
they may be better grasped by the reader, what
we have found in the ancient Martyrologies about them, we will first
report. In the most ancient apograph of the Hieronymian
Martyrology, Memory in the Hieronymian Martyrology, which is preserved among the Epternacenses
written nearly a thousand years ago, these things are read: "10 Kalends
of June, of the Spaniards Epictus and Aptonus … Basilius
the Bishop, likewise Aptonus." In the Lucensian apograph, edited
by Florentinus, they are had thus: "In Spain, the Birthday
of SS. Epictitus, Aptonus, Basilius the Bishop, likewise Aptonus."
In the Manuscript apograph Blumian is written "Basilius the Bishop and
twice Optonus." In the Corbeian apograph printed at Paris, "Basilius
the Bishop and twice Aptonius," to which at the end is added the name
of Jocundus: which addition is suspect, because more often
in that apograph it is found added at the end, although in
others it is lacking. Therefore that "Epictus" is written in the former, twisted
it appears, and with others should be read "Epictitus." In the same
Manuscript was interposed the memory of S. Desiderius; but by an easy
slip of the copyists.
[2] Thus far the apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology:
now let us inspect the rest. And first S. Basilius the Bishop
with three others, namely indicated, are remembered in
the Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, published by Holsten. The ancient Roman
of Cardinal Barberini, in the supplement to Bede has these things:
and others, at least three, "In Spain, birthday of SS. Epictitus, Aptonus, Basilius
the Bishop." Some ancient Manuscript Corbeian hands down these things:
"In Spain, birthday of SS. Epictitus, Aptonius." Manuscript Ado of the Liège
monastery of S. Lawrence, likewise Manuscripts of Cologne S. Mary
at the Steps and the Trier of S. Maximinus, "In Spain
of Epictetus, Aptonus, Basilius the Bishop." Manuscript of the Cathedral
Church of Prague, "In Spain of Epicticus, Basileus the Bishop,
Aptotus," who better in the Manuscript of Liège S. Lambert and
others reported is called Aptonus: of whom however the following
Martyrologies are silent. And first the very ancient Trier
of S. Maximinus: or two; and Basilius is held to be Bishop, "In Spain of Epictitus, Basilius the Bishop."
Seven or eight Manuscripts of Usuard, but supplemented, which we
have, have these things: "In Spain the birthday of SS. Epicticus and
Basileus the Bishop." In the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck
printed in the year 1490 and at Greven, is added, "Martyrs."
Carmelite Manuscript: "In Spain of B. Basileus the Bishop
and Epulitus the Martyr," where by the error of the copyist Epulitus
was written for Epictitus. Manuscripts of the Cassinian monastery and
the Roman of Duke Altempsius: "In Spain of S. Basilius the Bishop."
So thus far Basilius is in all called Bishop,
and without that title is reported Epictitus. Each is also without
that title in the Manuscripts of Aachen, Augsburg of S. Udalric
and Parisian of Labbe, and in Notker. Again
each with that title is remembered in the Manuscripts of Reichenau
and Reichenau (Rhinoviensian): but the names are written Epicterius the Bishop
and Basis the Bishop. Petrus de Natalibus in book 11, chapter
130, number 148, says, "Epiticus and Basileus Bishops in
Spain shine on the 10th Kalends of June."
[3] But on the contrary the order related above is changed in the Martyrology
of Bellinus, by others Epitacius is called Bishop. according to the custom of the Roman curia about the year
1498 printed at Venice, in which these things are read: "In Spain
of Epitacius the Bishop and Basileus." There followed Maurolycus, Felicius,
Molanus, Canisius, Galesinius with today's Roman.
Cited which, both are reported by Ambrosius Morales in his General
Chronicle of Spain printed in the year 1574 in book 10
chapter 28, and John Marieta in the Ecclesiastical History of the Saints
of Spain printed in the year 1596 in book 2 chapter 32.
The same have Basilius Sanctorus, Villegas, and others in the
Flores Sanctorum, Padilla in the Ecclesiastical History of Spain
century 4, chapter 31. And these assert that nothing else
can be known about them. We find them in the cited Manuscript Martyrology of the Queen
of Sweden attributed to Valencia, a city of the Spains: but in
the Manuscripts of Reichenau and Reichenau (Rhinoviensian) to the city of Mérida.
[4] You have collected, for the favor of the Spaniards, more than forty
testimonies of ancient Martyrologies and writers,
to which we could add the silence of the rest, who
flourished before this 17th century: Some things about them are reckoned fabricated, when at last there were excogitated,
and under the mask of ancient writers came forth
very many figments, which led even erudite men into
error. So Prudentius Sandovallius Bishop
of Tuy, established as the first Bishop of his Church
S. Epitacius, of whom we treat here: of which the chief
argument is taken from a certain fragment written under the name
of Athanasius, who would have been the first Bishop of Saragossa.
Of him we made some mention on May 15, where on the
Coming of the 7 Bishops, sent by SS. Peter and Paul into Spain,
we treated; and from these we judged Athanasius should be
removed. Yet that he was not fabulous, but truly a companion of those first
Bishops, this fragment edited under his name, indeed
figment, is not at once to be approved:
[5] "I knew S. Peter, the first Bishop of Braga: as if by S. Peter Bishop of Braga in his century the Bishops were consecrated.
whom S. James the son of Zebedee my Master raised up an ancient Prophet.
This man had come
with twelve tribes, sent by Nebuchadnezzar
into Spain from Jerusalem, with the leader Nebuzaradan
or Pyrrhus the Prefect of the Spaniards. He was called
this Prophet Samuel the younger, or Malachi
the elder, on account of the gravity of his morals and the beauty of his face,
son of Uriah the Prophet. Made Bishop
he converted many of the Jews to the faith, saying that he had come
with their elders and had preached to those who were transmigrated;
and that he had died in the 20th year after their coming
into the Spains. This Apostolic man, having received from S. James
Apostolic institutions, the Gospel and the Order
of Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments, came to Braga.
He wrote Letters full of the Apostolic spirit to
the Churches: in which he established Bishops, as Iriensian,
Amphilochiensian, Eminiensian, Portuensian,
where he placed S. Basileus his fellow disciple (who, with him by
martyrdom taken away, succeeded in the See of Braga)
Epitacius in Tuy. These divine and plainly
Apostolic men, like the Apostles, did not always remain in one
city, but where the Holy Spirit snatched them they were borne:
as Epitatius, who not only in
the Tuy diocese, but also in the city of Lusitania Ambratia
preached. Who with signs and variety of tongues …
illustrated their preaching: nor did they go to preach alone,
but accompanied by many disciples, as Christ did,
Peter, James, and the rest of the Apostles."
[6] These things in Sandovallius the said Athanasius. We treated
of S. Peter Bishop of Braga on April 26, in the
Appendix page 1001 and following, other fictitious things asserted by various authors. judging him rather
to have lived in the fifth century of Christ: and we exploded this hitherto unheard
resurrection of his from the dead, and other adjuncts,
as plainly fabulous: therefore we need not delay refuting them again
here. The second of Sandovallius's argument, is taken
from the equally fictitious Chronicle of Dexter, in which these things are inserted:
"In the year 277 flourishes the memory at Tuy of S. Epictetus their
first Bishop, disciple of S. Peter of Braga: He is believed
to have suffered most grievous tortures under the beginning of Nero."
Similar things are had for the year 268. There is added
a writing of Julianus the Archpresbyter of the same flour in these words:
"In the year 252 at Tuy and elsewhere flourishes the memory of S. Epitacius,
Bishop of Tuy and Martyr." Finally to that
reckoning seems forged the Martyrology, which when it shall come forth in full,
a right judgment can be made about it. Of no
greater authority is what from the equally fictitious Chronicle of Maximus Bishop
of Saragossa is so produced: "In the year
583, from the ruins of Ambratia, where S. Epitatius,
first Bishop of Tuy, suffered, Neufila Bishop
of Tuy translated the Relics to Tuy: Anastasius
the Bishop consecrated a building to him." Meanwhile relying on such
authorities Sandovallius, in his treatise
printed in the year 1619, was followed by Rodericus de Acunha in
the History of the Church of Oporto and Braga, Francis Bivarius
and Rodericus Carus on Dexter, and chiefly
John Tamajus Salazar in his particular book on the Acts
of S. Epitacius edited in the year 1646, and finally in the Spanish
Martyrology on this May 23: which one curious of such matters
may approach, or also the Lusitanian Hagiology of George Cardosus
afterwards edited.