Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS TROPHIMUS, THEOPHILUS, AND COMPANIONS. LIKEWISE ON STS. JUSTUS AND MATTHEW, MARTYRS.

From the Greek tables and the Roman Martyrology.

Under Diocletian.

Trophimus, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) Theophilus, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) The Companion Martyrs among the Greeks (SS.) Justus, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) Matthew, Martyr among the Greeks (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR J. P.

The Greek tables in announcing these two first holy Martyrs do not agree: for the Greek Horologion of the year 1601 has only Trophimus, Martyr; which the Kalendar of the Ruthenians in Possevino, volume 2 of the Apparatus sacer, follows. The same is marked in the Greco-Muscovite Ephemerides, The announcements of these Martyrs vary, which are here given edited before the first volume of May: for which in another Greek Horologion of the year 1607, erroneously is written Τροφίνμου: where, however, he is not set alone. The Syriac or Chaldaic Kalendar, edited at Rome in the year 1624, and dictated in Latin to our Elders by lord Joseph of the Maronite College, reports thus: Of Trophimus and his companions. The Kalendar of the Greeks published by Genebrardus reads these things: Theophanus, Theophilus, and companion Martyrs. But the Arabic-Egyptian Martyrology, translated into Latin by Grazia Simonio the Maronite, has these things: The contest of St. Eutrophimus, Theophilus, and thirteen with them. Thirteen companions likewise is added by our transcript excerpted from the Menaea of the Ambrosian library of Milan; add the Menaeum of Chifflet; but that on the 22nd of this month. The Slavo-Russian Menologium nearly determines the time of the martyrdom: Of the holy martyrs Trophimus and Theophilus, and companions, suffering in the year 282 under Diocletian. The Synaxarion of Sirmond (but that on the 21st of this month), the Synaxarion of the Ruthenians peculiar to the diocese of Kiev, which is noted to contain also the Saints of the Caves and those proper to the Ruthenians, by the interpretation of our George David, missionary residing at Moscow in the year 1688; the Typicon of St. Sabas, the Menologium translated by Sirletus and edited by Canisius, both mention them with companions; but their number not expressed. The great printed Menaea add to these two named, Justus and Matthew, Maximus of Cythera following, in both places on the 21st of this month, concerning whom I shall speak below.

[2] The Roman Martyrology makes no mention of the companions, but the Saints it exhibits in these words: together with a eulogy, On the same day (23rd of July) the birthday of the holy martyrs Trophimus and Theophilus, who under Diocletian the emperor, beaten with stones, and burned with fire, at length struck with the sword, are crowned with martyrdom. The praised Ambrosian Menaea follow the holy Martyrs with a small eulogy; the Menologium translated by Sirletus with a somewhat longer one. Than both more prolix is held in the Basilian Synaxarion, which from the Greek at the end of the first volume of July I thus interpret: The contest of the holy martyr Trophimus, and his companions. Trophimus and Theophilus, martyrs of Christ, with their holy society, according to God's indulgence, the most impious and most cruel tyrant Diocletian reigning, confessed Christ, teaching and baptizing those who in his name came to them. And when they had become known and had been apprehended, they stood before him bound: and to deny Christ, and to sacrifice to idols, being compelled, but not persuaded; grievously beaten, on wood suspended and scraped, then stoned; and after these things, taken down from the wood, into a great furnace of fire were cast. But by God's grace from the furnace freed, and coming out without injury, so much that not even a hair of them had the fire touched, they smote the tyrant: and at length, bending their necks, with their holy heads were beheaded.

[3] The Menologium translated by Sirletus narrates that, their legs being broken, they were cast into the fire. and with little verses. The Synaxarion of Chifflet thus sings to St. Theophilus: Ὁ Θεόφιλος τέμνεταὶ τὸν αὐχένα, Ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ φιλοῦντος ἀνθρώπων γένος. That is:

Theophilus gave his neck to the sword for Christ,

Loving him who likewise loves the human race. The allusion in the proper name of the Saint and the participle φιλοῦντος (loving) is plain, which to those even most slightly skilled in the Greek tongue are most well known. Concerning St. Trophimus follows there this distich; whence I argue that the number ἑτέρων τριάκοντα, of thirty others, prefixed to him in our Ms., ought to be changed into thirteen: Τρεῖς καὶ δέκα Τρόφιμος ἄνδρας συντρόφους Ἔχων συνάθλους, τέμνεταὶ τούτοις ἅμα. That is:

Having as fellow-nurslings and fellow-crowned Thirteen men, Trophimus is slain together with these.

The poet had regard to the proper name Τρόφιμος, nursling or nurturer, and to the adjective σύντροφος, that is, nursed together, or co-nurtured.

[4] The place and year of death from Baronius. The place and time of death Baronius notes, which he had perhaps found expressed somewhere, when at the year 305, number 17, he writes: Likewise in Lycia underwent the contest the excellent martyrs Trophimus and Theophilus, who, beaten with stones, etc. Them I do not find in Tillemont, Ecclesiastical Monuments, volume 5, among the Martyrs who suffered under the persecution of Diocletian. The epoch here assigned by Baronius much differs from the earlier one of the Slavo-Russian Menologium: but that the Baronian is truer, is clear from this, that that other anticipates by two years the reign of Diocletian.

[5] The things which pertain to Sts. Justus and Matthew, Justus and Matthew, whom above we said to be joined to the two former in the great printed Menaea, and in Maximus of Cythera on the 21st of this month (to which add the Milanese Mss. of the Ambrosian library), have been drawn back hither, as we indicated in the Praetermitted at that day; whether at the same time they suffered with those two, and under the name of companions are contained in the other Greek Fasti, or from them are distinct, and suffered at a different time: under one announcement at least they are set in those Menaea, with the two others, whom we produced from the Roman: for which cause we deemed it lawful to us on this day to treat of them. The Menaeum of Chifflet, from the two others, on the day, as we said, of the 22nd in him related, these our ones separates, noting on the 21st Ἰοῦστος καὶ Ματαῖος (Ματθαῖος) mm. That is: Justus and Matthew, martyrs. To which day in our supplement, manuscript, to the printed Greek Menaea, from the Sirmond-Chifflet Mss., occur these things: Τῇ αύτῇ ἡμέρᾳ οἱ ἅγιοι Ἰοῦστος καὶ Ματθαῖος ξίφει τελ. That is: On the same day the holy Justus and Matthew by the sword are slain. There follows this distich: Ξίφει τραχήλους ἄνδρες ἐκδόντες δύο, Κοινοῦ τέλους λάβωσι κοινὰ τὰ στέφη. That is:

While two Men give their necks to be struck by the sword, Of a common death may they bear common crowns.

An allusion of little salt; since of no pair of Martyrs could not the same things be predicated.

[6] are here given. The Arabic-Egyptian Martyrology, rendered into Latin by Grazia Simonio the Maronite, announcing the contest of both, adds unnamed companions on the same day, the 21st of this month; who also in the same manner are annexed in the praised Milanese Mss., besides the four whom, as we saw, they express by name; but on the 23rd again they set the names of Trophimus, Theophilus, and 13 companion martyrs: whom I wonder, after so slight an interval of days of the same month, to be again then repeated; since not even by a shadow does anything compel one to suspect that they are diverse from the former.

ON THE SEVEN ANONYMOUS MARTYRS OF CHALCEDON.

Cult among the Greeks.

The seven anonymous Martyrs of Chalcedon (SS.)

J. P.

These seven anonymous Martyrs are noted in the great printed Menaea, Maximus of Cythera following, as usual: whom also reports our transcript from the Milanese Mss. of the Ambrosian library, to which I find ascribed both Turin ones. Somewhere were written seven Martyrs ἐν χαλδίᾳ, who to our copy of the said Menaea by hand are ascribed; whether the same as the preceding, or diverse, is not plainly established. I should prefer, however, to believe that there is erroneously written the place of the wrestling-school, than that seven anonymous Martyrs, and on the same day here, are doubled. But now whether from the 49 Martyrs of Chalcedon, related in the Roman Martyrology on the 24th of September, they differ; or rather from their class hither are drawn, is hidden from us; as also what names, lineage, or time of death surround them.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

APOLLONIUS, EUGENIUS, AND VITALIS, BISHOP (as they will have it) OF RAVENNA.

Cult from the Greek Fasti and the Roman Martyrology.

Apollonius, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) Eugenius, Martyr among the Greeks (St.) Vitalis, bishop (as they will have it) of Ravenna, Martyr among the Greeks (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR J. P.

Four Martyrs together on this day announces the Menologium from the interpretation of Cardinal Sirletus, edited by Canisius: The birthday of the blessed martyrs Apollinaris, Vitalis, bishop of Ravenna, Apollonius the Roman, Besides the cult of these Martyrs from the Greeks and the Roman Martyrology, and the holy martyr Eugenius. The great Menaea, with Maximus of Cythera, only three of them thus mention: Of the holy martyrs Apollinaris, and Vitalis, bishops of Ravenna, and Apollonius of Rome, Eugenius being omitted, who in our copy of the same Menaea is added by hand. In our manuscript index to the aforesaid Menaea, Apollonius, from the Mazarine, with thirteen unnamed companions, is noted by Henschen. On the 22nd this Martyr I read in our transcript of the Synaxarion of Dijon, or of our Peter Francis Chifflet, in these words: Ὁ ἅγιος Ἀπολλώνιος ἐπίσκοπος Ῥώμης, εἰς πῦρ βληθεὶς καὶ τοξευθεὶς τελ. That is: St. Apollonius, bishop of Rome, cast into the fire, and struck by arrows, dies. There follows this distich: Ἀπολλωνίῳ διπλόμαχος ἡ πάλη Μοχθοῦντι πρὸς πῦρ καὶ τὰ τῶν τόξων βέλη. That is:

A double kind of struggle Apollonius bore, Enduring the fires and the darts of the bows.

[2] Concerning St. Apollinaris we treated separately on this day. But holy Vitalis of Ravenna, certain things concerning them are noted. and Valeria his wife, martyrs, we gave on the 28th of April. Vitalis a bishop, no one of Ravenna do we know: nor does Ughelli have such in the catalogue which concerning the archbishops of Ravenna he wove. More in the preliminary Commentary on the Life of St. Apollinaris, paragraph first. The title of bishop of Rome, added to St. Apollonius, but in the Roman Martyrology more rightly omitted, we likewise think should be struck out. St. Eugenius to some one of the given or to-be-given synonymous Martyrs perhaps is to be recalled; concerning whom soon more. However the matter may stand; it is enough if, besides the Greeks, for the cult of both those Saints we produce the Roman Martyrology, which simply announces: Of the holy martyrs Apollonius and Eugenius. Their age, wrestling-ground, and deeds are hidden from us. Hence can be corrected the announcement in our transcripts from the Milanese Mss. Menaea of the Ambrosian library, O n. 148, thus expressed: Ἄθλησις τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων Ἀπολλιναρίου καὶ Βιταλίου ἐπισκόπων Ῥαβέννης, καὶ Ἀπολλονίου ἐπισκόπου Ῥώμης, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου μάρτυρος Ἐυγενίου. That is: The contest of the holy martyrs Apollinaris and Vitalius, bishops of Ravenna, and Apollonius bishop of Rome, and the holy martyr Eugenius.

[3] Little verses concerning St. Eugenius. Furthermore, St. Eugenius is reported in the praised Synaxarion of Dijon, on the 21st of this month, in which I read the following: Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ ἅγιος μάρτυρ Εὐγένιος ξίφει τελ. That is: On the same day (21st of July) the holy martyr Eugenius by the sword is slain. Of the little verses which I subjoin, the allusion is plain of itself. Γενναιότητος εὐγε τῆς Εὐγενίου, Ὃς γενῶς στὰς πλήττεταὶ κατ᾽ αὐχένος. That is:

Well done, for the nobility of Eugenius: death, Who, giving nobly his neck, struck by the sword, dost undergo.

In the Menaeum or manuscript parchment Synaxarion of the convent of St. Louis, Pope, of the Preachers at Paris, is mentioned St. Eugenius, Martyr, on the 23rd, as above: on which also he is noted in the third Mazarine, as in our transcript it is ascribed, most ancient, through the whole year containing only the memories of Saints.

[4] Wrongly by pseudo-Julian St. Apollonius is drawn into Spain. Against St. Apollonius, fixed to no certain place in the Roman Martyrology, as against a masterless and abandoned thing, ravaged after his manner the masked Julian, him and indeed (if it please the Gods) with companions, foully and violently into Spain drawing, in these words in the Chronicle, number 39: In the Baetica of Marchena, which Marcia Colonia is called, St. Apollonius with Companions for the persecution of Christ the Lord are slain. This harpy's trifles here adopts our Antonio de Quintanadueñas in the little work which he edited in Spanish, On the Saints of Seville, from page 287; not likewise the most learned Nicolás Antonio, an eliminator of the Saints fictitiously attracted into Spain; who in his unedited Mss., communicated to us at Madrid at the close of the year 1721 by his nearest kinsman, impugns these. Let it suffice to have noted one thing with him, that the word Marchena* of Julian betrays its novelty. Who then, those things which he here observes concluding, that these things now concerning the Saints of Seville against de Quintanadueñas just cited he had noted, affirms lord Martín de Anaia Maldonado in a certain little book, not sufficiently obvious to all. Whether more rapacious shall I say or more audacious, not content with Apollonius alone, Eugenius also to Spain ascribed Tamayo.

* colony.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF LAODICEA MINISEUS AND TISICUS

From the Hieronymian ones.

Miniseus, Martyr at Laodicea (St.) Tisicus, Martyr at Laodicea (St.)

J. B. S.

The little roll of the Hieronymian codices on this day is to be taken from the Lucca and Corbie ones, of which the former reads: At Laodicea of Phrygia, the birthday of St. Miniseus, Tysicus: the other a little more purely: At Laodicea of Phrygia, the birthday of Sts. Miniseus, Tisicus. In the Epternach one the names are corrupted, Mœnisi and Sicci: in the rest confusion, while Primitiva and Apollinaris, with the repeated Tisicus, are connected. The text is confirmed by the contracted codices, not without some change; for the Reichenau one has: And at Laodicea, of Miniseus, Tisicia, where only the last letter is to be scraped off. The Labbe one reports the very names, badly annexing to them Primitivus. In the Rheinau one Tisicus is lacking, whom Notker transformed into Isichius. The true reading, I think, at least the most verisimilar, is ours; while no aid from elsewhere is available.