ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF TOMI AND ANCYRA: MACROBIUS AND GORDIAN AND ZOTICUS AND LUCIAN AND HELIAS AND VALERIAN AND SELEUCUS AND PERHAPS OTHERS, MARTYRS.
AT TOMI IN PONTUS, AND AT ANCYRA IN GALATIA.
From the Greek and Latin calendars.
Under Licinius.
CommentaryMacrobius, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Gordian, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Zoticus, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Lucian, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Helias, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Valerian, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
Seleucus, Martyr at Tomi in Pontus, and at Ancyra in Galatia (St.)
BY J. S.
These martyrs the calendars of the Greeks report variously and confusedly, nor is the Roman Martyrology free from confusion. Among these martyrs Seleucus is found in one place only among the Greeks: For in it Macrobius alone of this whole class is commemorated, and he, without the place, is joined with Julian the martyr of Galatia, who did not suffer with Macrobius, but alone. The Sirletian Menology has none of these today, but wrongly joined Seleucus and Valerian on the preceding day with the martyrs of Alexandria, as was shown there in Cronides and his companions. The Basilian Menology altogether lacks Seleucus, as does the manuscript Synaxarium to be praised below; nay, even that eulogy of the Menaea which enumerates these martyrs alone. Nevertheless the Menaea mention Seleucus in the first eulogy, in which martyrs of different regions are reckoned together, and there he is said to have been in Galatia with Valerian, Macrobius, and Gordian. In that eulogy also the four praised martyrs are said to have suffered in Galatia, and their martyrdom is narrated in those words which — because the account appears less accurate — I transfer hither only in Latin: Those who were in Galatia, Seleucus and Valerian, Macrobius and Gordian, being tortured by the prefect of that place with fire and sword and various torments, were at last set before wild beasts for food, and gave up their souls to God. These things cannot be put together with the other calendars, in which their martyrdom seems to be set forth more accurately; and therefore the aforesaid things are more suspect of falsehood than the eulogies presently to be given. As concerns Seleucus, however, who is not afterward reckoned with the others, he could have completed his martyrdom in Galatia.
[2] In the other eulogy of the Menaea, where Seleucus is passed over, the eulogy of the rest is recited from the Basilian Menology: Gordian is said to have been from Cappadocia, Macrobius from Paphlagonia, so that you would say others were designated, were it not presently added that they departed, as had been related before. But concerning Zoticus, Helias, Lucian, and Valerian that eulogy rightly agrees with the others now to be given. The Basilian Menology announces the martyrs thus: The contest of the holy martyrs Macrobius, Gordian, and their companions. Then the martyrdom is reported in this manner: These holy martyrs shone in the reign of the emperor Licinius; and Macrobius indeed drew his origin from Cappadocia, but Gordian from Paphlagonia. And since they were of a flourishing age, and endowed with courage and wisdom, they discharged the office of serving at the emperor's table; and they were greatly loved by him for their virtue and the excellent form of their bodies. But being accused of the Christian faith, when they could be induced neither by exhortations nor by threats to deny Christ, they are banished into Scythia. Being deported thither, they found the holy Zoticus, Lucian, and Helias fighting most bravely for the confession of Christ. But after many torments, Zoticus indeed and Lucian were beheaded; while they themselves, together with Helias, were thrust into prison. And he indeed was beheaded; but Macrobius and Gordian, cast into the fire, perished; and Valerian, weeping at the tomb of the saints, gave up his spirit. Thus far the Menology, in which I do not find whether Valerian suffered anything besides for Christ; which is not said in the other calendars either.
[3] they suffered at Tomi in Pontus under the governor Maximus: In the Greek manuscript Synaxarium, which was communicated to our predecessors from an ancient manuscript of Sirmond, everything is set forth in plainly the same manner; but two things are added which pertain to a fuller elucidation. An announcement is also premised in this manner: Of the holy martyrs Macrobius, Gordian, Helias, Zoticus, Lucian, and Valerian. Concerning the native land of Macrobius and Gordian, and concerning their ministry with Licinius, the same things are narrated. These likewise are said to have been banished into Scythia; but the city is named in which they stopped, and in which both these and the remaining martyrs attained their crown; the name too of the prefect under whom they suffered is added. Those words therefore I transfer hither: Οὖτοι δὲ γενόμενοι κατὰ τὴν Τομέων πόλιν, ἐναθλοῦντας εὗρον τοὺς ἁγίους Ζωτικὸν, τὸν Λουκίανὸν, καὶ Ἡλεὶ διὰ τὴν εἰς Χριστὸν ὁμολογίαν παρὰ Μαξίμῳ τῷ ἡγεμόνι. But these (Macrobius and Gordian), when they had come to the city of the Tomitans \, found the holy Zoticus, Lucian, and Helias contending for the confession of Christ before Maximus the prefect.* The Menaea too name Τομαίων πόλιν, the city of the Tomitans, in which the latter suffered. Hence I have fixed Tomi in Pontus as the wrestling-ground of these martyrs. Now Tomi, otherwise also called Tomis, was the metropolis of the province of Pontus, which in the middle age was called Scythia from the Scythians and Getae inhabiting it; but now it is part of Bulgaria, just as of old it was part of Lower Moesia near the Euxine Sea. Adjoining it is the city Tomi, in which of old the poet Ovid was in exile. Maximus the prefect, under whom these saints are said to have suffered, was governor of Moesia, and became known by other slaughters of saints. Certainly, to pass over others, under him suffered St. Julius, whose Acts were given at the 27th of May.
[4] The Hieronymian transcripts and Rabanus have mentioned these martyrs at the 15th of September; some of them, however, fell at Ancyra, as is gathered from the Latins, and from them it is confirmed that they did not all suffer in one place, but that some completed their martyrdom at Tomi in Pontus, others at Ancyra in Galatia. Of these it is thus read in Florentinius: And at Ancyra of Gallia, the birthday of the holy Seleucus. Valerius. In the Epternach codex: And at Ancyra of Gallitia, of Seleucus, Falerius, Cyrio. In the Corbie: At Ancyra of Galatia, the birthday of the holy Seleucus and Valerius. Rabanus has: And at Ancyra of Galatia, the birthday of St. Seleucus, Valerius, and Cyrio. From these it is gathered that Seleucus, and more probably Valerian also — who is said to have expired while praying — suffered at Ancyra; for although Valerian is commemorated in the Menology with the Tomitans, yet he is not said to have been banished with them. Of Cyrio the Greeks have made no mention.
[5] who also commemorate the Tomitans not without faults. Of the others the Hieronymian codex of Florentinius thus: And in the city of Thomi, the birthday of the holy Stratorius. Valerius. Merubius \ and Gordian the bishop. The Epternach: And at Tomi, of Strato, Macrobius. The Corbie: In the city of Tomi, the birthday of the holy Stratorius, Valerius, Merobius, and Gordian. You see, studious reader, with how many faults these teem. Rabanus brings forward two in this manner: And at Tomi, of Strato and Macrobius.* You would scarcely recognize that the same men are here indicated whom we have produced from the Greeks, especially since Strato is everywhere added, whom the Greeks have not mentioned among the martyrs of Tomi. Besides, Gordian, whom the Greeks commemorate, does not seem to have been a bishop. I confess that little can with difficulty be drawn out from so many variations and consequent faults. But for that very reason I should not dare to say that these martyrs are different from those whom I have given from the Greeks; but I think that some of them were omitted, while Cyrio and Strato were added. It may also be that both at Ancyra and at Tomi there was some Valerius or Valerian with the other martyrs.
Notes\ Tomos*
\ thus he corrected for Mercibi*