African Martyrs

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS

PRIMUS, ACCIDIA, PASSIMONIUS, AND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OTHERS.

From the Hieronymian and other ancient Martyrologies.

Primus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Accidia, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Passimonius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

CLIII, Martyrs in Africa (SS.)

G. H.

These holy Martyrs are represented to us by the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology: and the Lucca one indeed and the Blume one, with the Mss. Roman of Cardinal Barberini, Trier of S. Maximinus, and Liège of S. Laurentius in these words: In Africa the Birthday of SS. Primus,

Accidia, Passimonius, and one hundred fifty-three others: For these three, Four, in the last place are written in the old Ms. of the Queen of Sweden, by Holstenius in the Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology edited; and only CXLIII in the Supplement of Greven to Usuard are numbered. But the former number the apograph of Corbie printed at Paris keeps, and has Aaccidia, which a slip either of the amanuenses or of the typographers we judge; as perhaps that Accidius is written in the Ms. Florarium of the Saints. In the most ancient Echternach one these things are had: In Africa of SS. Primus, Accidia, Bassus, Morus, and one hundred fifty-three others. But, for Bassus and Morus, that a single name Passimonius is to be put back, persuade, with the others aforesaid, the Mss. Rheinau in Switzerland, and Reichenau near Constance in Suevia, in which these are read: In Africa of Primus, Acidius or Acaedius, Aposimonius, and others CLIII. The Prague one, the arena of Martyrdom omitted, thus has it: The passion of SS. Primus, Monius, and others CLIII. In the Appendix of Ado, in Mosander and Rosweyde, these are indicated: In Africa the Birthday of the Saints Primus, Acidia or Alcidia, Passiomonius, and others CLIV. More we know not to add by divining.

ON THE HOLY ANTIOCHENE MARTYRS

SICIMODUS, BASSUS, VENUSTUS, VICTURIUS, AND PULLIENUS.

From the same Martyrology of S. Jerome:

Sicimodus, Martyr at Antioch (S.)

Bassus, Martyr at Antioch (S.)

Venustus, Martyr at Antioch (S.)

Victurius, Martyr at Antioch (S.)

Pullienus, Martyr at Antioch (S.)

G. H.

The same four ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, never enough praised hitherto, suggest to us the aforetitled Martyrs, in these words nearly everywhere: At Antioch of Sicimodus, Bassus, Venustus, Victurius, Pullienus. The first, a little letter omitted, in the Echternach one is written Scimodus; the last indeed Pulliemus in the Lucca codex. Nor more of these Martyrs elsewhere do we read.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

PONTAMIUS, DIMETIUS, SECUNDINUS, AND MAXIMUS.

From an old Ms. Martyrology of Monte Cassino.

Pontamius, Martyr (S.)

Dimetius, Martyr (S.)

Secundinus, Martyr (S.)

Maximus, Martyr (S.)

G. H.

The old Martyrology, which written in the Lombard character we found in the Arch-monastery of Monte Cassino of the most holy Patriarch Benedict, these four Martyrs, and them alone thus exhibits. On the fourth Kalends of June the Birthday of the holy Martyrs Pontamius, Dimetius, Secundinus, and Maximus. We had on the preceding day among the African Martyrs S. Secundinus, and likewise in the single apograph of Corbie of the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris: but none of these companions is joined. On the same day in the said apograph is read S. Maximus among the Roman Martyrs, but in his place in other Calendars S. Maxima is found. Meanwhile SS. Pontamius and Dimetius Martyrs are lacking: therefore we judged it would be worth the trouble, that all, as we found them, together we should propose. There will perhaps be one who will find more and more certain monuments, through which we may be more fully instructed about the martyrdom and cult.

ON THE HOLY HUSBAND AND WIFE

MARTYRS AMONG THE GREEKS.

From a Ms. Synaxarium of the College of Dijon S.J.

Husband, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)

Wife, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)

G. H.

The often by us praised Ms. Menaea of Dijon of the Society of Jesus, at this XXIX of May, these things have. Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ οἱ ἅγιοι Μάρτυρες, ἀνὴρ μετὰ τῆς συζύγου αὐτοῦ, ξύλοις τὰ ὀστᾶ συντριβέντες, τελειοῦνται. On the same day the holy Martyrs, a Husband with his Wife, their bones crushed with woods, end their life. Then these are added verses, alluding to the words of Adam about Eve, Gen. 2, This now is bone of my bones.

Τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ὀστοῖς συγκατεσθλάσθη, γύναι, Κᾀγὼ σὸν ὀστοῦν πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα φημί.

Thy bones, with the bones of thy husband, are crushed: And I, Woman, say thee Bone of thine, to thy husband.

More neither from elsewhere is at hand, nor do we divine.