ON SAINT HERMOGENES MARTYR IN ASIA.
CENTURY I
CommentaryHermogenes, Martyr in Asia (St.)
G. H.
The most ancient transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which received from the monks of Echternach we have long used as our own, on the V of the Nones of May notes the Birthday of S. Hermogenes thus, that it places nothing before or above it: three other less ancient ones place before the discovery of the most holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and then immediately subjoin this holy Martyr, of whom in the Mss. of Lucca and Blum these things are read: In the Province of Asia, in the city of Luminata, the Birthday of S. Hermogenes of the ancients. Notker very much approaches these, writing thus: In Asia of S. Hermogenes of the ancients; with those words omitted, in the city of Luminata; for which in the Ms. of Corbie of the Hieronymian Martyrology, printed at Paris, after the report of the Discovery of the Cross are placed these words, the illuminated city, as if that pertained to Jerusalem: then is added: And the birthday of S. Hermogenes. But we scarcely doubt that by the error of the scribe the punctuation was depraved, and one or another letter changed, and that a new sense ought to be begun, In the city of Luminata. But here too we fear an error: for what is the city of Luminata? Is it Limenis, or Limenopolis? This is a city of Pisidia: but Pisidia seems to be attributed to the Province of Asia, or to Asia properly so called, as it was reduced into a Province by the Romans, while in the Notitia of the dignities of the Empire all Lesser Asia or Anatolia is divided into ten Pontic, and as many Asian dioceses, of which the fourth is Pisidia. As Hermogenes is called of the ancients; so also S. Thraseas Bishop on October V, crowned with martyrdom at Smyrna, is called by Ado and Notker one of the ancients, and various other Martyrs are named of the ancients of S. Paul, or of the disciples of the Apostles. Which same thing seems to be said of the aforesaid S. Hermogenes: who therefore in the aforesaid transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology is placed before S. Alexander and his companions who suffered under Trajan, so that he too is to be reckoned to have come to the crown of martyrdom under this or rather Domitian or other Emperors of the first century. In the MS. Martyrologies of S. Udalric of Augsburg and the Parisian of Labbe, these are joined: At Rome of Hermogenes, Alexander, Eventius, and Theodulus, where the place Rome is to be transferred to SS. Alexander and his companions.