ON SS. GERMANUS, CÆLESTINUS, SANTINA MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA.
CommentaryGermanus, Martyr at Alexandria (St.) Cælestinus, Martyr at Alexandria (St.) Santina, Martyr at Alexandria (St.)
G. H.
This is the fourth and last troop of Martyrs, in the ancient transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology: and indeed in the Echternach one written nearly a thousand years ago these are read: Likewise at Alexandria of Germanus, Cælestinus, Scantina. They suffered at Alexandria. Where the particle likewise can separate these from SS. Saturninus and Neopolus also suffering at Alexandria, but in another year perhaps, yet on this same day. The said particle likewise can also distinguish these two Germanus and Cælestinus from other Martyrs of the same name, who in the first class of this Martyrology with five other companions are reckoned. In the MSS. of Lucca and Blumius, in place of Scantina, is read Santina, and in the MS. of Corbie printed at Paris, Santinus. In all which also are repeated the names of Germanus and Cælestinus, although they had been in the first class placed: by whose authority we also do the same. The MS. of Aachen recalls Germanus, whether this be he, or another above reported. Of SS. Germanus and Cælestinus wrongly joined to SS. Secundinus and Neopolus suffering at Alexandria, and at the same time by Galesinius ascribed to Rome in the second class of these Martyrs, we have already treated.
[2] Tamayo Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology inscribed St. Cælestinus, Martyr at Rome, as if he were a Spaniard: and that by the authority of Julian Archpriest of Toledo; Whether Cælestinus, Martyr at Rome, is a Spaniard. in whose Adversaria num. 5 these are read: In the Spains the memory is famous of St. Cælestinus Martyr, who suffered at Rome in the persecution of Julian the Apostate. A man of Consular rank from Consular Bætica; a Spaniard with others, at the time when John and Paul were apprehended. He died in prison on the second day of May a Martyr. In the Chronicle also of Dexter at the year 356 it is handed down that Olymphius Bishop of Toledo issued books, which he inscribed to Cælestinus Consul of Bætica, who afterward was a Martyr. But these books we judge to have been fabricated in this seventeenth century, and the author of the Adversaria of Julian to have followed Galesinius erring, by whom also Baronius was led astray. The one who is alleged by Tamayo, Ambrosio Morales, makes mention of letters sent by the Emperor Constantius to Cælestinus, but of his martyrdom is silent, which we desire to be better proved, than from the pseudepigrapha of supposititious authors' writings.