Dionysius and Privatus and Perhaps Dorotheus

ON SS. DIONYSIUS AND PRIVATUS AND PERHAPS DOROTHEUS, MARTYRS,

IN PHRYGIA

From the Martyrologies.

Dionysius, martyr, in Phrygia. (S.)

Privatus, martyr, in Phrygia. (S.)

Dorotheus, martyr, in Phrygia. (S.)

J. P.

The names of the Saints in the ancient calendars Frequent in the Martyrologies is the mention of SS. Dionysius and Privatus, but beyond their names and the region in which they suffered nothing certain is to be found. Usuard announces them thus: In Phrygia, of SS. Dionysius and Privatus. Usuard were followed almost word for word by Bellinus, Maurolico, Galesinius, and, with other more recent writers, Baronius in the Roman Martyrology, at this same day: In Phrygia, of the holy Martyrs Dionysius and Privatus. The same Baronius adds in his annotations that ancient manuscripts agree with Usuard and the more recent ones. They are recorded also in the Hieronymian copies, but very confusedly. The name of Privatus is read not only on this day in all of them, but also on the preceding day in many, as was signified there in the Prætermissi; Dionysius is omitted in various ones, or, as it seemed to Florentinius, is expressed with a plainly corrupted name. The text in Florentinius is this: At the city of Sinada the birthday of Saints Dormidonus, Dorotheus, Privatus, Felix, Constantia, Felix, Constantia, who suffered under Nero. The Antwerp codex has it thus: In Syria of Phrygia the birthday of Doromus, Dionysius. And at Nuceria of Felix, Privatus, Constantia; likewise Felix, likewise Constantia. But the Corbie one thus: At Sinnada of Phrygia the birthday of SS. Dormidonus, Dorotheus, Privatus, Felix, Constantia, likewise Felix. At Nuceria the birthday of SS. Felix and Constantia, who suffered under Nero.

[2] How disturbed and mutilated the names are, both in these and in the more abridged Hieronymian copies, and in most of them confused and mutilated. we have already sufficiently observed at the preceding day, where St. Dorymedon was treated of together with SS. Trophimus and Sabbatius, and it was said that the latter was crowned with martyrdom at Antioch in Pisidia, and the former at Synnada in Phrygia. Of Felix and Constantia we have likewise treated at the preceding day, and have set their martyrdom at Nuceria in Italy under Nero. And so, of all who are recorded in the recited Hieronymian copies, only two, Dionysius and Privatus, and perhaps a third, Dorotheus, belong to this day. Perhaps, I say, because likely enough is Florentinius's conjecture that Dorotheus is the same who by Usuard and others is called Dionysius. Certainly not only in Florentinius's text and in the Corbie codex, but also in many of the more abridged copies of Jerome, Dorotheus is joined with Privatus, Dionysius being omitted. The Augsburg one has it thus: The Vigil of St. Matthew. Of Josmidonus, Dorotheus, Privatus, etc. The Labbe one: Of Dormidonus, Dorotheus, Privatus, etc. The Corbie one more briefly: At Sinnida of Phrygia, of Saints Dormidonus, Dorotheus, Privatus, etc. The Gellone one in d'Achery: Of Dormidionus, Dorotheus, Privatus, etc. Nevertheless, because both Dorotheus and Dionysius are expressly set down not only in the Epternach one but also in the Rheinau and Reichenau ones in this same manner: In Syria of Doromus, Dionysius, and Dorotheus, Privatus, etc., I have not dared to give full assent to the said conjecture, and have preferred doubtfully to add Dorotheus from the Hieronymian copies to Dionysius and Privatus, whom alone Baronius and the rest cited above exhibit with Usuard. On the other hand, although it be likely enough from those same Hieronymian copies that our Saints suffered at Synnada, which is a city of Phrygia, with Dorymedon, or perhaps a little after him, yet, because that is uncertain, I have preferred to fix no time for the martyrdom, and to set its arena more broadly, with Usuard and others, in Phrygia. Of their particular cult I have found nothing, except in a manuscript copy of the Calendar of Dol printed at Paris in the year 1519, where at the present day I read the following: Of Dionysius and Privatus, martyrs, 3 lessons; whence I conjecture that they are venerated with an office of three lessons.