ON ST. DONATIANUS
MARTYR AT CIRTHA IN NUMIDIA.
From the Hieronymian Martyrology.
CommentaryDonatianus Martyr, at Cirtha in Numidia (S.)
G. H.
Cirtha or Cirta, metropolis of Numidia,
once had several Martyrs,
reported by us on the day XXX of April;
to whom we judge to be added S. Donatianus
the Martyr, although the city Sirtha, Sytha,
Sista is written: because the name
is among the Africans usurped, and the letters
S and C, as in pronunciation before the vowels i or y
with very many do not differ, so often in proper names
are not sufficiently distinguished. Of this Saint Donatianus then,
in the city Sirtha or Cirtha Martyr, treat the ancient
apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and with these other ancient
MSS. the Roman of Cardinal Barberini, the Trier
of S. Maximinus, and the Liège of S. Lawrence under the name of Ado.
The same indeed, but with no palaestra indicated, is named
in MS. Florarium of Saints, and MSS. Parisiensis of Labbé,
Augustanus of S. Udalric, and another of the Church of Prague. By
error also, as easily happens, twice Donatiana is written,
and once Daciani; but perhaps because of S. Daciana,
at Carthage on this day having suffered, as will now be said.