ON SS. MODESTUS AND COMPANIONS IN AFRICA: MODESTUS, EUTYCHIUS, MATERUS OR MAURUS, AND DISEUS, MARTYRS, FROM THE MARTYROLOGIES,
PROBABLY IN THE YEAR 304.
CollectionModestus, martyr, in Africa. (S.)
Eutychius, martyr, in Africa. (S.)
Materus or Maurus, martyr, in Africa. (S.)
Diseus, martyr, in Africa. (S.)
V. D. B.
The Nicomedian band of holy Martyrs is followed in the Hieronymian calendars by another, African one, in these words: "And in Africa, of Modestus, Eutychus, [These saints are to be distinguished from St. Modestus and his Neapolitan companions.] Materus, Diseus"; in enumerating which Martyrs Fiorentini notes that the Lucca codices, the Antwerp or Echternach one and the Corbie one agree among themselves. And indeed, if you correct Materus into Maurus, as Morcelli advises Africa Christiana, vol. II, page 373., there seems to be no doubt that these things are right; although here too some knot arises from other codices. For since in the Hieronymian lists there was read at this day also: "At Naples, of Festus, Modestus and others, number 272," it came about from this that in the codices in which the names of places have been omitted both bands were fused into one; as may be found in the Augsburg codex In Sollerius, before part II of the Martyrology of Usuard, page 22., that of St. Germain of Auxerre In Martène, Thesaurus novus Anecdotorum, vol. III, col. 136., the Gellone one In d'Achery, Spicilegium, vol. II, page 15. and the Labbe one In Sollerius, page 29.. But the Reichenau one In Sollerius, page 15. and a certain auctarium of Bede or Florus Acta SS., before vol. II of March, page XXXV., which had retained the names of places, omitted Diseus and Materus or Maurus, and have only: "In Africa, of Modestus, Eutychus." I pass over that in the Augsburg one 7000 is inserted between Eutychus and Disseus; a reading, namely, that is solitary and of no profit. That these Martyrs suffered in Africa in the time of Diocletian in the year 504 is most probable from what has quite often been argued in our work.