ON ST. CORNUTUS OR CURNUTUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR,
AT ICONIUM IN LYCAONIA.
From the Martyrologies.
CommentaryCornutus or Curnutus, M., at Iconium in Lycaonia (St.)
BY J. S.
[1] Concerning St. Cornutus, or Curnutus, the martyr I find nothing anywhere This holy martyr, called a bishop by various writers, except in the sacred calendars of the Greeks, from which Galesinius and Baronius inserted him into their martyrologies. The Menology which the most eminent Sirleto rendered into Latin celebrates Cornutus today with such a eulogy: On the same day, the birthday of the most holy martyr Curnutus, who was a Christian bishop of Iconium, a religious man and fearing God, hoary in head and in mind. But when persecution was stirred up against the Christians, being detained and brought before the governor Perennius, he attained martyrdom by the cutting off of his head. In the printed Menaea he is likewise said to have been bishop of Iconium; and there two things are added, namely that Cornutus was born and brought up at Iconium, and that he was taken in a place called Sursal. Two little verses, which are set before the brief eulogy in the same place, explain his martyrdom in this manner:
Κλέους καταγνοὺς τοῦ παρόντος Κουρνοῦτος Ξίφει τὸ μέλλον ἐμπορεύεται κλέος
Having despised present glory, Curnutus Purchases by the sword the glory to come.
Concerning the episcopate of St. Cornutus a manuscript Synaxarium also agrees, received by our predecessors from the manuscripts of Sirmond, so that I cannot wonder that the title of bishop was attributed to Cornutus by Galesinius also and Baronius, and that he was inserted into the catalogue of the bishops of Iconium in Michael le Quien, tom. 1 of the Oriens Christianus, col. [ ].
[2] elsewhere only a priest, he attained his crown by the sword. Nevertheless the episcopate of St. Cornutus does not seem altogether certain, since in the Basilian Menology he is called only a priest. For he is there announced in these words: On the same day, the contest of the most holy martyr Cornutus. This is then adorned with this eulogy: The most holy martyr Cornutus was of the city of Iconium, a priest pious and fearing God. But when persecution had been stirred up against the Christians, and a governor cruel and devoid of all humanity had been sent to Iconium to torture the Christians dwelling there, all the rest having slipped away in fear, Cornutus, forsaken by all, went forth to meet the governor; and being questioned, since he boldly confessed Christ and proclaimed himself a perfect Christian, and refuted the imposture of the idols, and mocked the governor himself, he was seized; and being bound by the feet with a slender rope, he was dragged through the squares and streets of the city of Iconium so far, until his blood flowed out upon the ground like a river, while meanwhile, half alive, he gave thanks and offered prayers to God. And thus, tortured a long time, and calling upon Christ to his last breath, at last by the governor's order he was beheaded and commended his soul to God. Thus far the Menology, with which the Synaxarium just praised agrees concerning the dragging of the saint through the city.
[3] Now certain things come to be observed concerning those matters in which all the Greeks do not agree. First, the name is written by some Curnutus, by others Cornutus; nor does it sufficiently appear observations on the name, and on other things pertaining to the saint. in which of the two ways it is more rightly written. But it is certain that in Baronius and Galesinius he is not rightly called Curonotus, and that in the praised le Quien there is a departure still further from the true name, when it is written Caronatus. Secondly, I hold the episcopate of St. Cornutus not only for uncertain, as I have already noted, but also for less probable, because the Basilian Menology, in which he is called a priest, seems to prevail over the other calendars of the Greeks, and especially because the Greeks more frequently go beyond the mark than fall short in attributing titles of this sort; nor is mention of the episcopate made anywhere in the eulogies, but only in the announcement preceding the eulogy. Thirdly, in two places he is said to have been taken in a place called Sursal, for which in Margunius is read εἰς τὸ χωρίον Σουρσακου, in the place of Sursacus. But others mention only the city of Iconium. Perhaps it was a place in the city or near the city which the compilers of the Menaea and of the Synaxarium designated. Fourthly, the saint is said to have been dragged through the city in the Basilian Menology and in the manuscript Synaxarium, the rest being silent
about that torment; yet this is probable enough, because the Menaea and the Sirletian Menology, in which it is passed over, at least do not deny it, and only mention briefly by what penalty the saint ended his life. Fifthly, he is said in the Sirletian Menology and in the Synaxarium to have suffered under the governor Perennius; and Baronius adopted this in the Roman Martyrology. But since the others are silent as to the governor's name, the matter is uncertain. Of the time of the martyrdom I say nothing, because I find the time marked in no place.