ON ST. AMMON, MARTYR AND PERHAPS LECTOR,
AT NICOMEDIA.
From the Hieronymian transcripts.
CommentaryAmmon, M., and perhaps lector, at Nicomedia (St.)
J. S.
So many transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology agree upon Ammon, or perhaps Ammonius, the martyr of Nicomedia — the place of his contest being added also in most of them — that I do not think he should be omitted, although in some copies he is passed over, and he is otherwise almost unknown. I have also added, with hesitation, the title of lector, by which he is distinguished from the rest of the same name, because this is clearly attributed to him in the Corbie codex. For the Corbie Martyrology has thus: At Nicomedia, the birthday
of Ammon the lector. More briefly the Epternach codex: At Nicomedia, of Ammon. The Reichenau codex also expresses the place: Nicomedia, of Ammonius. Finally the Augsburg, the Labbean, and the Gellone codices mention Ammon or Ammonius; but they exhibit the bare name, as frequently happens in them. In the text in Florentinius the name of Ammon has dropped out together with the place of the martyrs following there. For there is read: At Nicomedia, the birthday; but, Ammon being passed over, there follow other martyrs, who likewise occur in other calendars after Ammon, and are announced in Asia, as we shall presently see. The Blumian calendar, which Florentinius exhibits at the end of his work, has of St. Ammona Matrona; but the word Matrona signifies another martyr, who belongs to the following class. In Rosweyde, in the Appendix of Ado, is likewise read: At Nicomedia, of St. Ammona. I add no more; but I do not think that this martyr had any other name than Ammon or Ammonius; whether, however, he held the office of lector I cannot declare with certainty.