African Martyrs

18 April · commentary

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS VICTOR, PAMPHILUS, DONATUS, JANUARIUS, MICION, DOMNUS, TUREMUNUS, SYRICUS, PRISCIANUS.

Commentary

Victor, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Pamphilus, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Donatus, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Januarius, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Micion, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Domnus, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Turemunus, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Syricus, Martyr in Africa (Saint) Priscianus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)

G. H.

[1] These nine African Martyrs are referred in the third place, in four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, in these words: "In Africa of Victor, Pamphilus, Donatus, Januarius, Micion, Domnus, Turemunus, Syricus, Priscianus." In place of Pamphilus, in one Manuscript is read "Pamphilici"; for Turemunus there is also "Turemonus, Turimunus," and "Turemimus." In the Tallaght Manuscript among the Irish, the names are expressed: "Victor, Pamphilus, Donatus, Januarius, Micion, Domnus, Turinus, Mumus, Siricus, Priscianus" and fifteen others. But in others "Turini, Mami," of one Thremunus is the name. Notker, content to bring forward Victor, thus passes over the rest: "In Africa of Victor with his companions." Of these some are proposed in the ancient Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, which Holstenius praised: "In Africa of Victor, Pamphilus, Siricus, Priscianus." Of these, with Siricus removed, the three remaining are read in the Roman Manuscript of Cardinal Barberini, from which and from others we gave the genuine Martyrology of Bede, which is vacant on this day. But Florus in the Arras and Laeti Manuscripts has this: "In Africa the natal day of Saints Victor and Donatus." In the Rheinau Manuscript it is read: "In Africa of Victor, Pamphilus." To these is added in the Reichenau Manuscript: "Donata," who to others is "Donatus"; and apart from the others he is mentioned in Greven in the addition to Usuard, in the Augsburg Manuscripts of Saint Ulrich and of Labbé's Paris. These are what of these African Martyrs we have been able to bring forward, having learned thus far.

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