Arenus the Deacon

ON S. ARENUS THE DEACON, MARTYR AT ALEXANDRIA.

From the Martyrology of S. Jerome and others.

Arenus the Deacon, Martyr at Alexandria (S.)

G. H.

This glorious Martyr many Martyrologies indicate, even the ancient ones ascribed to S. Jerome: but in the most ancient Echternach codex the palaestra is omitted, which is indicated in the copies Corbie, Lucca, and Blume, likewise in the MSS. Roman of Cardinal Barberini, Rheinau in Helvetia, Reichenau in Suevia, Trier of S. Maximin, the Ado of Liège of S. Lawrence and in the MS. Florary, in the same words everywhere: At Alexandria the birthday of S. Arenus the Deacon. Notker thus writes: At Alexandria of S. Irenaeus the Deacon, who in the Prague MS. Herenus the Deacon is called. In the Tamlacht MS. in Hibernia twice the name of Arenus is inserted. The name of Irenaeus, being Greek, in an Alexandrian Martyr pleases more, than the name of Arenus, and nothing could more easily have happened, than that to the Latins, first pronouncing the name with aspiration, in writing in the place of H an A should creep in: yet to the greater number of copies, concordantly writing Arenus, after our manner we defer the reverence of the more powerful suffrage.

ON SAINT POLIOCHUS MARTYR AT CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA.

From the same Martyrology of S. Jerome.

Poliochus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

G. H.

We proceed with the four ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology in which it is thus expressed: At Caesarea of Cappadocia the birthday of S. Poliochus. But in the Lucca MS. is read Poliocli, and in the Reichenau MS. Epoliochi, and the palaestra of martyrdom being omitted in the Paris MS.

of Labbe Palliaci: but in the Augsburg MS. of S. Udalric Politti, and in the Hibernian Tamlacht Pullioli. In this diversity of writing the name we follow the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, as more ancient and consonant among themselves: we suspect nevertheless here also that it befell the Latin writers, not enough versed in Greek names, that Poliochus crept in for Polyeuctus; just as at the XXI Martyrs of Caesarea the Standard-bearer Polyeuctus, in several copies Polioctus is found. More things perhaps and surer will time clear out.