Martyrs in Asia

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS IN ASIA: BARDOMIANUS AND EUCARPUS AND TWENTY-SIX COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

IN ASIA.

From the Martyrologies.

Bardomianus, M., in Asia (S.)

Eucarpus, M., in Asia (S.)

Twenty-six Companions, MM., in Asia (SS.)

BY J. S.

Two Martyrs named with XXVI Anonymous ones Baronius, after Galesinius, today announces two named Martyrs with several anonymous ones, as taken from the Martyrology of Bede, in these words: In Asia the passion of the saints Bardomianus, Eucarpus, and twenty-six other martyrs. These indeed are not found in the genuine Martyrology of Bede, but only in some interpolated and enlarged codices is read: In Asia of SS. Eucarpus and Bardonianus: and twenty-six others. But Rabanus records the aforesaid Martyrs, writing thus: In Asia the birthday of Bardomianus, Eucarpus, and XXVI others. The aforesaid Martyrs are found also in the Hieronymian codices at this day, from which Florentini published these words about them: In Asia the birthday of the saints Eucarpus and Bardumanus, and of twenty-six others. For Bardumani in the Blume codex it was Barduniani, as he observes at page 1069. The same man exhibits in the Annotations the words of the most ancient Epternach codex thus: The birthday of Bardomanus, Eucarpus, and XXVI others. Some variety is found in the Corbie codex, which has thus: In Asia, the birthday of the saints Eucarpus and Bardo, with twenty others. Yet another number of Anonymous ones is expressed in the Reichenau codex in this manner: In Asia, the birthday of saint Bardonianus, Eucarpus, and sixteen others. The authority and consent of the codices alleged about the handful of Anonymous ones suffices of itself for us not to doubt that with Bardomianus or Bardonianus and Eucarpus several Anonymous ones suffered. But that these were Twenty-six is persuaded by the consent of several codices, especially since Rabanus without doubt had less faulty codices, from which he gave twenty-six Anonymous ones with Bardomianus and Eucarpus.

[2] suffered in Asia: Marcus, sometimes added, Of the wrestling-place too of these Martyrs no doubt remains, since even in those codices in which the place of martyrdom is frequently omitted, Asia is assigned — namely in the Augsburg, the Labbean, the Gellone, and others given in Martène. By Asia is designated that province of Asia Minor which was strictly called Asia, or Asia properly so called. Yet one might doubt whether Marcus should not be added to the two Martyrs expressed by name, because he seems to be joined to them in some codices. For in the Augsburg codex it stands thus: Asia, of Bardonianus, Marcus, Eucarpus. The most ancient one in Martène, volume 3 of the Anecdota, col. [ ]: In Asia, of Eucarpus, Bardinianus, Marcus. The Tours one in the same place, without the place: Of Eucarpus, Bardinianus and Marcus. In the Calendar published by Florentini, page 1052, is read: Of Eucarpus, Marcus, Bardomianus being omitted. So mention is made of Eucarpus alone in the Murbach one in Martène: In Asia, of Eucarpus.

[3] But, the defects of those Martyrologies being considered, does not seem to belong to them. it ought to move us little that in a few Marcus is added, and in a few likewise Eucarpus alone is set down, since, besides the consent of the chief Martyrologies, the Labbean and the Gellone also agree marvellously in rejecting Marcus, in which it is read in exactly the same manner: In Asia, of Eucarpus, Bardunianus. Elsewhere, of Marcus. And so my judgment or conjecture about Marcus — who even in the chief codices is separated from the Asians — I have declared in the Prætermissi. Of today's Asians Grevenus rightly, from the ancients: In Asia, of the saints Eucarpus, Bardumanus, and of twenty-six others. Rightly likewise, older than Grevenus, the collector of the manuscript Florarium, though with the name of Eucarpus corrupted: In Asia, of the saints Ancharpus and Bardunianus, and of XXVI others. For the rest, the studious reader will see that the name of Eucarpus is expressed constantly enough, but not so that of Bardomianus, which is dislocated in several ways. But whether the true name is Bardomianus, or Bardonianus, or Bardunianus — in which forms it is more frequently expressed — I cannot divine.