ON ST. JULIAN, MARTYR IN SYRIA,
His worship from the ancient Martyrologies.
Julianus, M. in Syria (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. C.
The Roman Martyrology today assigns in Syria the memory of holy Julian the martyr, This Saint, having suffered in Syria, and the most eminent Baronius in the notes to this announcement asserts that ancient manuscripts treat of him, and that more recent writers support it. Would that that most eminent expounder of the Martyrology had openly taught us what and of what sort these ancient manuscripts are! For if by them he understands ancient codices of Martyrologies, we freely confess that this holy Martyr is announced on this day in various Hieronymian copies and Usuardine Supplements. But if he would indicate ancient manuscript monuments of a Life or of a Martyrdom, we neither have nor can find them. Castellan also seems to have lacked them, who today in his universal Martyrology doubts in the margin whether this St. Julian be not the same as he who on the day XII of August is announced with St. Macarius his companion in Syria. But he gives no reason for his doubt.
[2] is inscribed in the ancient Martyrologies, Perhaps Castellan was led to this suspicion by the almost like clause which is then added to each announcement: for on the day XII of August there is announced in Florentinius: In Syria, in the village of Magaratum, the birthday of the holy Macarius, Julianus; where a great district of monks assembles. But on the day XXV of August today's St. Julian alone is thus recorded: In the province of Syria, the birthday of holy Julianus, where there is a great gathering of monks, who deserved to be crowned for his faith. Florentinius in the notes to each announcement tries in vain by divining to scatter these thick shadows. Meanwhile about the ancient Acts of either or of one of the two Martyrs he supplies nothing.
[3] although the time and circumstances of the martyrdom are not found. Pietro de' Natali sufficiently distinguishes these two Julians, martyrs in Syria, from one another, when in book XI of the Catalogue of the Saints, num. 214, he thus relates the former with his companion: Macarius and Julianus on the same day (namely the XII of August) are crowned in Syria. Then in the same place, num. 224, he thus joins the martyrdom of the other with the priesthood: Julianus, martyr and presbyter, suffered in the province of Syria on the VIII Kalends of September. Therefore today's St. Julian, because of the different day of veneration and the dignity of the priesthood, seems to be distinguished from the other martyr of the same name and region. When the most eminent Baronius in the notes to the Roman Martyrology says that more recent writers support it, he likely wished to indicate more recent Martyrologists, among whom Bellino of Padua in the double edition of his Martyrology places this holy Martyr in the province of Stiria for of Syria, which perhaps is a printer's fault. Further, it does not please us to grope longer in these shadows, until from some quarter some light shall shine forth: for we have already for too long sought in vain the time and the circumstances of the martyrdom.