Roman Martyrs

ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS.

EPEGATUS, EUSTASIUS, VICTIA, CASTULUS, EPECATUS, ANIA, OCTUBER, URORIA, VIPPIA, HILUS, HOMINIUS, MARCILIUS, CILLONIA, MAXIMA, FILOMINUS, AVETTIA, COMMINIUS, MARCIANUS, FLUMINIUS, MARCIANA, CASTULA, AND OTHERS VI OR IX.

From the Hieronymian Martyrology.

St. Epegatus, Roman Martyr.

St. Eustasius, Roman Martyr.

St. Victias, Roman Martyr.

St. Castulus, Roman Martyr.

St. Epocatus, Roman Martyr.

St. Anias, Roman Martyr.

St. October, Roman Martyr.

St. Uraria, Roman Martyr.

St. Vippia, Roman Martyr.

St. Hilus, Roman Martyr.

St. Hominius, Roman Martyr.

St. Marcilius, Roman Martyr.

St. Cillonia, Roman Martyr.

St. Maxima, Roman Martyr.

St. Filominus, Roman Martyr.

St. Avettia, Roman Martyr.

St. Comminius, Roman Martyr.

St. Marcianus, Roman Martyr.

St. Fluminius, Roman Martyr.

St. Marcianus, Roman Martyr.

St. Castula, Roman Martyr.

VI or IX, Roman Martyrs.

BY G. H.

[1] This class of illustrious Roman Heroes the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology propose in the fourth place, Memory in the Fasti of St. Jerome, and in the most ancient Echternach one in these words: At Rome, of Vepeganus, Eustasius, Victia, Castula and Pigatus, Ania, October, Uroria, Vimpialis, Hominus, Marcellus, Cillonia, Maxima, Filomonus, Avettia, Cumminus, Marcianus, Fluminus, Marciania, Castula, with others VI. In other copies some are indicated with some variety: and instead of Vepeganus, is read in the Blume and Lucca ones Epegatus, and in the Corbie one printed at Paris Epecatus: and then in the fifth place is repeated, likewise Epecatus: which name there two other Manuscripts have, where less perfectly the Echternach one seems to have also Pegatus. Then instead of Ania in the Lucca one is Ancas, in the Blume one Amas, and that name in the Corbie one is wanting. For October in the rest is Octuber, and for Uroria in the Lucca one Usoria. But Vimpialis is variously changed: in the Corbie one is Vippiapilis, which divided in two ways in the Lucca one, is Vippia Hilus; in the Blume one, Viappia Hilus. Afterwards instead of Marcellus, in others is written Marcilius: and for Cillonia, in the Lucca one Collonia, and in the Corbie one Ciconia; in which also Maximus is read, in others Maxima. But the name Filominus in the Lucca and Blume ones is Sylominus. Avettia is also written Avittia and Avitia: as Comminus, Cominus and Commienus: and for Marciana, in the Corbie one is Marcianus. Instead also of Marciana is found the name Marciania, Marcianus, Marianus written. Finally the anonymous VI, in others are VII or IX. Thus far from the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology.

[2] In the Vatican codex marked with the number 5949, and in the Monte Cassino and Altemps Manuscripts these are had: and others. At Rome, of SS. Epegatus, or Epagatus, Eustasius, Castulus. In the Augsburg Manuscript of St. Udalric and the Parisian one of Labbe also three names are marked in these words: At Rome, of Epegathus, or Epicadus, Marcianus, Castulus. Thus with these five Manuscripts is referred on May XXVII St. Castulus Martyr at Rome in the Manuscripts of Trier of St. Martin, and of Arras of the Cathedral Church; hence because there is twice mentioned among these Martyrs Castula, the usual particle "likewise" not being prefixed, we propose both Castulus and Castula in the title. The Reichenau or Augia-dives Manuscript has these: At Rome, of Grigalus, Catula, Martialis, for which is indicated above, Epegatus, Castula and Marciana or Marcianus, as in others also is read.

[3] The place of martyrdom in the Corbie, Lucca and Blume copies is assigned on the Nomentan way at the XIII milestone. The place of burial. In the Monte Cassino and Altemps Manuscripts also on the Nomentan way at the XIV milestone, and the number of miles not indicated in the Vatican Manuscript. Thus above on May XXV St. Urban the Pope is said to be buried on the Nomentan way at the VIII milestone, and St. Restitutus, Martyr, is buried at the sixteenth milestone, as his Acts have, to be given on May XXIX.

ON SS. CRESCENS, PAULUS AND DIOSCORIDES,

ROMAN MARTYRS.

From the Greek Manuscript Synaxaries.

St. Crescens, Martyr at Rome.

St. Paulus, Martyr at Rome.

St. Dioscorides, Martyr at Rome.

BY G. H.

[1] An illustrious encomium of these Martyrs the ancient Greek Menology of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus furnishes, on this XXVIII of May to this tenor: Οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μάρτυρες Κρίσκης, Παῦλος, καὶ Διοσκορίδης ἐν Ρὥμῃ τῇ πόλει διατρίβοντες, καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ αὐτῶν πολλοὺς τῶν ἀπίστων τῷ Χριστῷ προσαγαγόντες καὶ φωτίζοντες καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, διεγνώσθησαν τῷ τῆς Ῥώμης Ἐπάρχῳ· καὶ κρατηθέντες, ἀπεκλείσθησαν εἰς φυλακὴν, παραγγελίαν λαβόντες μηδένα διδάσκειν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὡς δὲ οὐδὲ ἐν τῆ φυλακῇ ἐπαύσαντο τοῦ διδάσκειν τοὺς συνδεσμίους, ἐξ ὧν πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν, ἐκβληθέντες τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐτύφθησαν σφοδρῶς, καταναγκαζόμενοι ἀρνήσασθαι μὲν ἐπὶ πάντων τὸν Χριστὸν, ἀπελθεῖν δὲ εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Διὸς, καὶ θῦσαι τοῖς ἐν αὐτῷ εἰδώλοις. Καὶ μὴ πεισθέντες, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ τὸν Χριστὸν τοῖς πᾶσι κηρύττοντες, εἰς κάμινον μεγάλην πυρὸς ἐμβληθέντες, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καθάπερ οἱ ἅγιοι τρεῖς παῖδες δοξολογοῦντες, ἐτελειώθησαν.

Now receive the Latin interpretation.

[2] The holy Martyrs of Christ Crescens, Paulus, and Dioscorides, Encomium from the Menology of the Emperor Basil, dwelling in the city of Rome, and by their doctrine leading many of the infidels to Christ, and enlightening them every day, became known to the Prefect of the City; and being seized by him were thrust into prison, and received a command to instruct no one more in the name of Christ. But, not even in prison, did they cease to teach those who were bound together with them: of whom in consequence many embraced the faith of Christ. Afterwards these three, led out of prison, were cruelly beaten; and ordered first of all to deny Christ, then to enter the temple of Jupiter, and to sacrifice to the idols which were therein. But when they refused assent, nay rather with a great voice preached Christ to all; cast into a great furnace of burning fire, and in it like the holy three Children glorifying God, they consummated their martyrdom. These things in the said most ancient Menology of the Emperor Basil.

[3] But lest anyone should wish to interpret it of New Rome or Constantinople, because they were unknown as such to the Romans; it helps to add another testimony from the most ancient Manuscript Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople, another from the Manuscript Synaxary. which often

we have said pertains to the Parisian College of the Society of Jesus, in which on this XXVIII of May too these things are read: Οὗτοι ἐν τῆ πρεσβυτέρᾳ ῥώμῃ διατρίβοντες, πολλοὺς τῷ Χριστῷ προσαγόντες καὶ βαπτίζοντες τῇ ἑαυτῇ διδασκαλίᾳ διεγνώσθησαν τῶ τῆς Ρὥμης Ἐπάρχῳ· καὶ συλληφθέντες κατεῖχε τούτους τὸ δεσμοτήριον. Πολλοῖς δὲ τῶν δεσμοτῶν, καὶ ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ, τῇ πρὸς Χριστὸν πίστει προσαγάγοντες, ἐξαχθέντες ἐτύφθησαν σφοδρῶς. Ἔπειτα εἰς κάμινον πυρὸς ἐμβληθέντες, ἐτελειώθησαν.

These dwelling in old Rome, converted many to Christ, and baptized them. Wherefore on account of this their doctrine they became known to the Prefect of the City: by whom they were apprehended, and cast into prison, in which they led many, bound in the same custody, to the faith of Christ. But being led out, they were most cruelly beaten, and then cast into a furnace kindled with fire: they consummated their martyrdom. These things there. But because the aforesaid Saints are there said to have enlightened and baptized others, they seem to have been Presbyters. Some Encomium of the same Martyrs, but more contracted, is had in the Synaxary of Dijon, together with a prefatory Distich, by which they are thus compared to the three Children in Babylonia, of whom the collector of the Basilian Synaxary made mention above:

Ἐν τῇ καμίνῳ Μιζὰκ Διοσκορίδης, Σιδρὰκ δὲ Παῦλος, Ἀβδεναγὼ δὲ Κρίσκης.

In the furnace itself Dioscorides was Misac, And Paul Sidrac, Crescens was Abdenago.

[4] In the Menology of Sirletus, too negligently, as we have said, collected, only these are read: On the same day the combat of the holy Martyrs Crescens, Dioscorides, Mention in the Menology of Sirletus. Paul and Helladius. But Baronius from the said Menology, which he alleges in the Notes, transferred the same in the same words to the Roman Martyrology. But St. Helladius, Bishop and Martyr, is celebrated the day before in the Greek Menaea, and concerning him a whole Office is recited, and the very encomium of his martyrdom thence transferred is had in the new Anthology, by the authority of Clement VIII published by Antonius Arcudius at the Vatican press; but separately on this day he is referred in the already cited Menology of the Emperor Basil, and the Typicum of St. Sabas, as will be said below at the Life of St. Nicetas Bishop of Chalcedon.

ON SS. NATALIUS AND SARONAS,

ROMAN MARTYRS.

From the Greek Manuscript Synaxaries.

St. Natalius, Roman Martyr.

St. Saronas, Roman Martyr.

BY D. P.

The already praised Manuscript Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople, and with it the Manuscript Menaea of Milan of the Ambrosian library, and of Turin of the Duke of Savoy, indicate these Martyrs in few words on this XXVIII of May. Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἄθλησις τῶν ἁγίων Ναταλίου καὶ Σαρωνᾶ Ρὡμαίων. On the same day the combat of the holy Natalius and Saronas, Romans. In the Manuscript of Dijon, found with Pierre François Chifflet, of the same on the day XXX of May this is thus read. Τῇ ἀυτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ ἁγιος Νατάλιος ξίφει τελειοῦται. On the same day St. Natalius, cut down by the sword, finishes his life, and that Distich is added with an allusion to the title of Martyr, signifying a Witness, in this manner:

Χόρου γενέσθαι Μαρτύρων διὰ ξίφους Τὸν Νατάλιον μαρτύρουσιν ὁι βίβλοι.

That, slain by the sword, he was inserted in the choir of Witnesses, Many books duly testify of Natalius.

What these books were it is not granted to divine: but it is permitted to wish that from somewhere they may come forth, and render to us more certain the notice and veneration of the aforesaid Martyrs. Meanwhile it remains doubtful whether to Old or New Rome, or to Italy or Thrace, which was called by later men Romania, these Martyrs are ascribed, of whom notice is had from the Greeks alone; and so, whether they are of those more ancient ones, whom the fury of the Gentile Judges took away; or whether perhaps they pertain to the VIII century and the times of the Iconoclasts: but if this were so, we believe a more express mention ought to have been made of Images defended, even in so brief a verse.