Avitus

ON SAINTS AVITUS, CINZAMUS THE LECTOR, ARION, EMERITUS, ALICUS, CAPITO, AND SEVENTY-EIGHT OTHERS, MARTYRS AT NICOMEDIA.

Knowledge of the names and the number from ancient Martyrologies.

Avitus, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) Cinzamus, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) Arion, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) Emetitus, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) Alicus, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) Capito, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.) The other 78, Martyrs at Nicomedia (SS.)

G. H.

This day, the 23rd of June, the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology begin with the Martyrs of Nicomedia: and the most ancient one, the Epternac, begins with these words. At Nicomedia, of Avitus and Cinnancus the Lector, and of others, Arto, Emeritus, Alicus, Carto, and sixty-nine others. Where the earlier words, "and of others," seem to have been intruded by the carelessness of copyists, as is sufficiently clear from others; for the Blume copy has thus: At Nicomedia, of Avitus, Ezinzamus the Lector, Aritio, Emeriticus, Alicus, Capito, and seventy- eight others. In the Lucca copy the Lector is lacking, with his name: the rest are the same. In the Corbie copy it is read thus: At Nicomedia, of Avitus, Cinzamus the Lector, Antio, Amiratus, Alicus, Capito, and eight others; where the earlier part of the number is wanting, and it seems to have been written seventy- eight. The Manuscripts of Reichenau and Rheinau consign the same in this manner: At Nicomedia, of Avitus, Signamus (otherwise Cinnanus), Capito, Rito, Emeritus, Alicus, and seventy-eight others. In the same manner with six names and seventy-eight anonymous ones they are expressed in the Augsburg Manuscript of St. Udalric, and the Paris one of Labbe: but in this the anonymous are said to be sixty-eight. The Cologne Manuscript of St. Mary ad Gradus reads thus: At Nicomedia, of Avitus, Emeritus, and seventy-eight others. Grevenus, in the Auctarium of Usuard, brings forth Avitus, Capito, and seventy-eight others. The Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, published by Holstenius, marks these. At Nicomedia the birthday of Saints Avitus, Cinzamus, and elsewhere Orion the Lector, and eighty- one others. Where also this particle "and elsewhere" is intruded, and the name of Lector is by others attributed to Cinzamus: and for Orion perhaps the name Arion is to be restored. But because three of those named are lacking, the anonymous are rightly reckoned eighty- one. In the Brussels Manuscript of St. Gudula three names are expressed, and eighty-two are added. Of these Martyrs also mention is celebrated in the double Florentine Manuscripts, the Aachen, the Barberini, the Cassino, and others, which, lest we cause weariness, we willingly omit.