Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS QUIRILLUS, QUINDEUS OR GINDEUS, AND ZENO AT AXIOPOLIS IN BULGARIA.

Quirillus, Martyr at Axiopolis in Bulgaria (S.)

Quiadeus or Gindeus, Martyr at Axiopolis in Bulgaria (S.)

Zenon, Martyr at Axiopolis in Bulgaria (S.)

G. H.

Axiopolis an ancient city of Lower Mysia, in modern Bulgaria, on the right bank of the Danube, which thence formerly was wont to be called Ister, has produced for us some Martyrs proposed on this day and the next. By these the four ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology begin the present day thus: Suffering at Axiopolis on the seventh of the Ides of May at Axiopolis of Quirillus, Quindeus, Zenon. The same are reported by Rabanus, Notker, and in the Martyrology printed under the name of Bede, likewise in the MSS. of Trier of S. Maximinus, of Aachen, and another of the Queen of Sweden cited by Holstenius, but in place of Quindeus is read Gindeus, and Zindeus: with which omitted the rest are had in the MSS. of Reichenau and Rheinau: but Quirillus alone is in the MSS. Altempsian and another Corbeian, likewise of Arras and Tournai. With the place of martyrdom omitted all are reported, in the MSS. of Augsburg, Labbeian, of Tamlacht, and in Greven's Auctary to Usuard. But Quirillus with Zeno is mentioned in the MS. of Prague, in others Quirillus alone or Zeno alone. Galesinus asserts in his Notations, that in Bede these names are read corruptly: but with him cited, and his MS., he writes these things: At Rome of the blessed Martyrs Quirillus, Zeno and Timothy. That MS. codex of Galesinus is convicted of teeming with continuous errors, which we should more easily and certainly distinguish from others, not at Rome from the same Galesinus following his own conjectures added thereto: if the Codex itself were still extant, and came to our hands, or some apograph of it. We have in sixteen illustrious codices these three, Quirillus, Quindeus or Gindeus, and Zeno, who suffered at Axiopolis: and Timothy reported on this day, because his sacred bones were brought from Ephesus to Constantinople, as we observe among those Passed Over and deferred to other days. Mention of Rome we have found nowhere. Meanwhile Galesinus is followed by Ferrarius, with Rabanus and Notker omitted, whom he was wont elsewhere to allege. Whether from these are different the Martyrs, who on the following day are reported also as having suffered at Axiopolis, we inquire there. In the Martyrology of S. Savinus de Levitania, reported in the additions of Saussay to the Gallican Martyrology page 1248, on the day VIII of April these things are had: At Axiopolis the birthday of SS. Cyril, also reported on 8 April. Quideus and Zeno, by which the suffrages of all the previous for Axiopolis are confirmed. The bare name of S. Quirillus the martyr is inserted into the Calendar of an ancient Breviary MS. which we have, and it seems to have been in use in the regions of the Rhine.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS APHRODISIUS, IOCUNDUS AND FIRMUS AT TARSUS IN CILICIA.

Aphrodisius, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (S.)

Secundus, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (S.)

Firmus, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (S.)

G. H.

The Corbeian apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, printed at Paris, in the second place celebrates these Martyrs in these words; At Tarsus of Cilicia of Aphrodisius, Iocundus, Firmus: but three other apographs, the Epternacian, Lucan and Blumian, omit the two companions Iocundus and Firmus: which the same is done by Notker, Rabanus, the Author of the Martyrology printed under the name of Bede with the MSS. of Reichenau, the Patrician transcribed at Naples, and another of the Queen of Sweden. But without place of martyrdom is reported S. Aphrodisius in the MSS. of Aachen, of Augsburg of S. Udalric and the Parisian of Labbe, and of Tamlacht, as in the Auctary of Greven to Usuard, and on the preceding day VIII of May in the Martyrology of S. Savinus de Levitania, in Saussay in the additions to the Gallican Martyrology page 1248.