ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS CALOCERUS AND PARTHENIUS EUNUCHS OF THE WIFE OF DECIUS THE EMPEROR.
IN THE YEAR CCL.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. The cult from the Martyrologies. The old Acts from MSS. Relics in the Abbey of Moiremont in Lorraine.
Calocerus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Parthenius, Martyr at Rome (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] The memory of these illustrious athletes is inscribed everywhere in all the sacred Latin calendars, and with it the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology auspicate this day. The most ancient of these, the Echternach, has thus: At Rome the birthday of Calocerus, Parthenius, eunuchs of Decius the Emperor and of his wife, or (as Rabanus, Ado, and Notker write) eunuchs of the wife of Decius the Emperor. In the Lucca and Blume copies these things are added: who, since one of these was Provost of the bedchamber, the other Primicerius, unwilling to sacrifice to idols were slain by Decius, and rest in the cemetery near the Appian Way. The same things in almost the same words are read in Ado, Notker, and others, the burial being omitted in Florus, Rabanus, Usuard, and several others with the present Roman Martyrology: at which in the Notes Baronius treats largely of the dignity of the Primicerius or First in various offices, whom let the Reader consult. Of the place of burial in the cemetery at S. Xystus Aringhi treats, in Subterranean Rome book 3 chapter 15 number 2, and the words, which in the Acts concerning their burial are had, he alleges. Peter de Natalibus book 5 chapter 17 treats of the same, and calls the wife of Decius Tryphonia, who afterward having embraced the faith of Christ and died holily, is venerated on the XVIII of October, inscribed in the Roman Martyrology and others. SS. Paternus and Calocerus mentioned in the Liège MS. of S. Lawrence and in the MS. Florary on the XXIX day of May are not to be distinguished from these, as neither those whom the genuine Bede and from him Rabanus, Notker, Wandelbert, and Galesinius mention on the III of the Ides of February, At Rome of Callocerus and Parthenius: which perhaps is the day of the Translation into Gaul of which presently. Finally the same are those whom Notker has suffered at Rome on the XVIII of April: but only Parthenius is also to be found on the XVII of April, in a certain enlarged Usuard in the possession of Christina Queen of Sweden. We have the Acts copied from ancient codices, the Trier of S. Maximin, the Paris of James Sirmond, and another of ours: likewise from the Utrecht of S. Salvator, and they exist in the codices of the monasteries of S. Hubert among the Ardennes and of Bödeken in the diocese of Paderborn. Sirmond added this Passion taken from an ancient and faithful MS. Grave indeed is the writing and which you could believe almost wholly taken from notarial acts, so plain and simple is the manner in which the interrogations and answers proceed: in those things, however, which the author added of his own at the beginning and end, he was deceived by the name of the Decian persecution; or rather by the authority of the Acts of S. Lawrence, naming Decius the Emperor D. P., as if under him that man had suffered together with S. Sixtus the Pope.
[2] That some Relics of these Martyrs are in the church of SS. Sixtus and Silvester in the Campus Martius, The Relics translated into Gaul writes Piazza in the Roman Sanctuary: but the better part was long ago carried away into Gaul. Since the restoration of the Monastery of Moiremont gives credence, that the Relics of these in the diocese of Châlons at Moiremont were venerated before the year MLXXIV, as William Marlot notes, at his history of Reims part 2 book 2 chapter 1, producing the charter of Archbishop Manasses, marked with such a year and Indiction XII on the very Kalends of November, in which it is thus read. This Abbey, by Count Nanceius under the number of twelve Canons, The Abbey of Moiremont endowed by Count Nanceius, assiduously serving God there, copiously established, and with all its (which was manifold) possession handed over to the sustenance of the Canons of S. Mary, so distracted by the hands of the violent and the injury of the possessors and lost had failed, that it was reduced to the title of one Priest, who with rare access ministered to the Relics of the holy Martyrs Calocerus and Parthenius, there negligently placed. To the negligence of which holy Martyrs and to the destruction of their Abbey compassionating with the zeal of piety our son Oldoricus Provost of the Church of Reims, with the counsel of our Predecessor Gervasius and the consent of the Canons, it is restored in the 11th century. for that place sought out and made a reparation, that there he might establish monks, who continually to God and the holy Martyrs might serve. To the sustenance of these what lands from the ancient possessions the Chapter of S. Mary restored, and under what conditions, the same charter explains. But such things it nothing concerns here to add more fully; more to the point would it be to know, who was, and when lived that Count Nanceius; for it is probable that he himself is the one who brought the aforesaid Relics from Rome, perhaps having accompanied Charlemagne or some one of his later Emperors going thither to take the crown: by whom not ineptly one might suspect Nancy was founded, afterward the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, noble by the name, seat, and sepulchers of its Dukes.
[3] Certainly that Abbot-Canons were known in the age of Charlemagne, is agreed from his first Capitulary chapter 32, its defender from a robber Guido: to which presently correspond Regular Abbots: so that it is no wonder, if in the VIII or IX century such an Abbey was erected, in a place commonly called Moirmont: which Abbey (as the following charter there has) was committed to a certain Monk by name Galterus for providing and for augmenting: who when with all his strength he labored to restore the things destroyed, and the few little servants scattered around through want of famine to recall; a certain Soldier from a neighboring castle, which is called Vienne, Drogo by name, began to impede his zeal. But by the judgment of the assembly by Odolricus, and the sentence of Duke Godfrey compelled, after, a pledge being offered, he had made satisfaction for the damages which he had inflicted on the Saints, the same Provost pardoned him all, on this condition that thenceforth he should be held not a plunderer but a guardian of the place. This had been done under the Archbishop of Reims Guido, to whom Gervasius succeeding in the government, to the monastery of the aforesaid Martyrs assigned a certain Monk, John by name, as guardian: whom I Manasses (says he himself writing these things) ordained the first Abbot of that place, and somewhat diminished its poverty in that place. and the son Raignerus, corrected by his own misfortune. Which Abbot the aforesaid Soldier Drogo held as a familiar and defender of his Abbey… After whose decease his sons Raignerus and Gualterus, the compact of their father not kept, rose up against the holy place, and afflicted it with many rapines. Of whom Raignerus, with an inevitable (as he thought) wound smitten, asked the aforesaid Abbot that he would come to him: in whose presence by confessing he bewailed the evils which he had done, promising that he would thenceforth keep the things of the Saints if he survived. Moreover, his brother and the rest of his kinsmen consenting, he gave for his soul to the holy Martyrs Calocerus and Parthenius whatever by right of inheritance between the rivers Aisne and Bionne he possessed.
[4] That the Abbey is of the Benedictines Marlot indicates, which although the Sammarthani have not in tome 4 of Gallia Christiana, Whether thence the Relics were brought to Reims? yet that it still survives in the Deanery of S. Menehould (where also the Topographic maps express the name of the place, near Neuville at the bridge of the Aisne) we know from the General Pouillé of France of the year 1648, and that it is of the Royal jurisdiction: but whether there those holy Relics still are we know not, and we should believe them translated to Reims, did not Marlot make this doubtful. For the words of the Gallican Martyrology being alleged where it is said, At Reims the birthday of the blessed Martyrs Calocerus and Parthenius, whose, after the glorious contest in the cause of faith accomplished, sacred remains, brought to the monastery of S. Remigius, received fitting cult: Of this translation our authors are silent, says he: whereby he seems also tacitly to hint, that neither today in that monastery is anything of such Relics known.
THE PASSION
From various MS. Codices.
Calocerus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Parthenius, Martyr at Rome (S.)
BHL Number: 1534
FROM THE MSS.
[1] Therefore among the Roman Emperors, the first Christian was a Philip. He made his son Philip a partner of his reign. And so, when he had founded in Thrace the city Philippopolis, After both Philips the Emperors were slain. these two reigning the thousandth year of the city of Rome was completed. At this time b Aemilianus, an illustrious man, was summoned from the parts of the East: who when he had come to Rome, exercised the Consulship. This therefore Aemilianus, before he laid down the fasces, found the office of life. (i.e., died) Who also left a surviving daughter by name Calista, whose surname was Anatolia. Philip therefore the elder is slain at Verona by Decius, and Philip the younger at Rome, both namely most Christian. Decius therefore is raised up as Emperor, a sacrilegious man, who had slain both Princes. in the persecution stirred by Decius, Then on account of these conceiving hatred against himself of the Christians, the Bishop of the Roman city, c Sixtus by name, he slew, and his venerable Lawrence the Archdeacon. He sent also to Jerusalem, and ordered the Bishop of that Church d Alexander to be slain: but also the holy Babylas, the Priest of the Antiochene Church: hoping, the madman, that if he should remove those, who were the heads of the Churches, the whole body of the Church would perish. But the mad man, wounded with the poison of his frenzy, enlarged the glory of the holy Martyrs and Christians, and most cruelly slew his own soul. But the Saints, when they were thought to be conquered by slaying, being slain conquered better: who despising all temporal things, to the eternal and perpetual, despising the momentary, life hastened.
[2] So therefore there are accused before King Decius e Calocerus and Parthenius, SS. Calocerus and Parthenius offered because to them his own Eunuchs the dying Consul Aemilianus had commended his daughter. To whom when the King had sent and made them to be presented to his sight, he said to them: I hear that you sacrilegious Christians being made, the whole patrimony of Aemilianus the Consul are overturning: but also that you have so deceived his daughter, that she rejoices that you drain the riches left her by her father, and bestow them on the basest persons. Calocerus said: We have done that which was commanded us by our carnal lord: for Aemilianus the Consul was a true Christian-worshipper, and left his wealth to be bestowed on the poor. Decius the King said: they despise the threats: Be ready to sacrifice to the immortal gods, that my censure toward you may be able to be mitigated. Calocerus said: I fear not thy censure, but God's: for thy censure is today, and tomorrow will not be; but the wrath of God punishes with eternal torments those, who besides besides God Himself worship another. Decius said: Since you are young men, elegant and rich, why do you desire to lose life, and seek a dishonorable death? Calocerus said: A dishonorable death thou seekest, who believest thy God a stone or bronze: but I shall not be able to have a dishonorable death, who believe that God, who everywhere reigns and rules. Decius said: By the Gods and by the Goddesses, since if you shall sacrifice, I will make you my friends: but if you shall despise to do this, with various torments I will punish you. Calocerus answered: Let him desire to be thy friend, who fears not to have God his Lord an enemy. For as much as thy friendships are bitter to me, so much the sweeter to me are thy enmities. Decius said: Parthenius, what sayest thou? Parthenius answered: What Calocerus said, I also say: for one is to us the will and the faith. Decius said: Therefore does this please you, that despising my precepts you should die the death? Parthenius answered: The death, which thou threatenest to bring upon us, is our life, and therefore we do not fear thy wrath, because from it is born to us life perpetual, and a crown with the eternal palm.
[3] Then Decius angry said to his Prefect Libanius: Tomorrow morning in thy secretarium let them be tortured with various torments, if they shall despise to sacrifice: but if they shall consent, both join them to thy love, by command of Libanius the Prefect, Calocerus being variously tortured, and present them to my friendships. Libanius therefore the Prefect of the City, sitting on the Tellus, ordered them to be brought in one by one to the secretarium. And when Calocerus had entered, Libanius said to him: I ordered thee to enter for friendship's sake: if it please thee, to be a friend, I give thanks: but otherwise, by the laws I will punish thee. Calocerus answered: Whoever shall wish to have thy friendships, incurs the divine enmities: and therefore of thy enmities I care not, because thou conciliatest to me as much love of my God, as I shall be aggravated by the enmities of thy hatred. Libanius said: Our Lord the Emperor Decius commanded, that whoever shall not have sacrificed to the gods, with various torments should perish. Calocerus answered: Our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal King and true God, said: Everyone who shall have sacrificed to idols, shall be rooted out. Libanius said: Let him be hung on the rack. And when he had been hung and was being burned with torches, and was being scraped with claws, Calocerus said: Did I not tell thee, Libanius, that thy enmities exalt me, and make me acquire a fuller grace in the sight of my King? Do thou meanwhile devise harder torments: for the flesh thou canst tear, but the soul wrestling for faith and truth thou art not able to conquer. The Prefect Libanius said: Since I see this man with a rebellious mind to choose blows and torments rather than to fear them, remove this man, and bring in his colleague.
[4] Parthenius therefore being brought in, Libanius said: Tell me, Parthenius, what is the cause of the hardness of thy brother, that with so many blows and the rack drained, and with flames burned, and with claws dug, he in no way would consent to do the precepts of the most sacred Emperor? Parthenius said: Parthenius expounds the mystery of the Incarnation and the life of Christ, Because these torments have an end, but those which for those sacrificing to idols are prepared, have no end at all. Libanius said: Whence knowest thou this? Parthenius answered: Christ the Son of God, that He might succor men, assumed a man, whom a virgin conceived, a virgin bore, a virgin after the birth remained. Him first of all born, and laid in the cradle, Angels descending from heaven, praising and adoring, showed to the shepherds of the sheep. Likewise the shepherds adoring Him, what had been done about them they had seen and heard, among their acquaintances simply preached. Likewise the Magi, by the indication of a great star coming from the head of the East, offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh in their gifts, adored Him. Him while King Herod sought among the infants that he might slay Him, and found Him not, all the infants from two years old, who were in the city of Bethlehem, he caused to be slain. Him His father God, who reigns in the heavens, opening the heavens made manifest saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, do you all obey Him. He therefore overcoming all the temptations of the devil ascended a mountain, and calling to Himself His disciples, began the beatitudes eternal to them to show, and through what works they might be able to obtain glory and life perpetual. After these things He began to preach to the people of the Jews, and to say, that the souls going out of the bodies, if they shall have been defiled with idolatries or fornications, or polluted with human blood, are delivered to eternal fires: but those which from these crimes or other iniquities shall have been clean, free from eternal punishments, shall enjoy eternal delights. Then the Jews said: Whence canst thou prove it? The Lord says to them: Bring to me the blind and the lame, and as many as you have sick. And when there had been brought the blind who there were, He illumined them, to the deaf hearing, to the lame walking, to the paralytics health He restored, He healed all infirmities, and demons He cast out from the possessed, so that even the unclean spirits themselves cried out; We know, that Thou art the Son of God, send not us into the abyss. He commanded also the winds, the tempests by His command He restrained, upon the waves of the sea with dry feet He walked, but the dead He so raised, that even one who had four days in the sepulcher He recalled to life. Who when He did these things, likewise of the passion, resurrection, and ascension: and gave this power even to His disciples, He said to the Jews: If you believe not the words, at least believe the works. But they not only did not believe, but even their God, to them often promised through the Prophets, they crucified. Who being crucified and dead, on the third day rose again, and through forty days eating with the disciples, He bade even Himself to be touched, lest they should doubt of Him, but strong and firm in His faith should persist. But also all things which He had spoken to them before the passion, the same He repeated after the resurrection; and commanded them that His faith into all nations they should preach, and baptize them all in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. But after the fortieth day of His resurrection, all His disciples seeing, He ascended into the heavens in great power. To which disciples astonished when after Him they gazed, His Angels appeared saying, Why astonished do you gaze into heaven? This Lord, the Lord of us all, as you saw Him going into heaven, so will He return at the end to judge the whole age. This therefore is our faith in Christ, which by torments is not conquered, by flames, by swords is not overcome.
[5] Libanius the Prefect said: As I see, my God Jove, is the true God: for thy God, and he despises Jove: as thou thyself hast asserted, was crucified: but Jove never laid down his omnipotence, nay rather with empires enlarged it. Then smiling Parthenius said: Thy Jove lived in a barbarous manner, an adulterer of wives, a defiler of boys, a parricide also and a fratricide, but also his own sister he usurped as a wife. Him if thou believest thy God, with him thou shalt be burned with perpetual fires. Then the Assessor of the Prefect rending his tunic cried out: The gods will be angry at us, if these shall not have been burned up with fires.
[6] unharmed by fire, Then Libanius the Prefect ordered them with fires to be burned up. Sent therefore into the fire, when they remained unhurt, the minister angry, snatching up a burning club bruised their heads: but they praising God, gave up the spirit. Whom when the striker saw to have expired, slain with clubs, that he might indicate their end he proceeded: and at once the bodies of the Saints by the Christians were carried off. But Libanius commanding, that they should be cast unburied into the wood, those who had slain them returning, reported that they had found no indication at all of their bodies. Then holy Anatolia, she buries them, St. Anatolia, whose servants the bodies of the Saints had snatched away, she herself by herself laid them in a crypt, in which had been placed f the body of S. Sixtus the Pope venerable, whom Decius the Emperor had slain, and there with all diligence buried, so that even with porphyry columns g she adorned their sepulchers: in which place the benefits of their martyrdom abound unto the present day. These were from the Province of Armenia, sons of one father and mother, Calocerus the elder, Parthenius the younger in age. They suffered on the XIIII day of the Kalends of June, Decius h Augustus and Gratus being Consuls, Christ God and Lord being propitious, to whom is honor and glory through all ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS PATERNUS, GALLICOLUS, URBANA, INDICUS, SELEUCUS, FELIX, CLONICUS, CRESCENTIUS, CALONICA, JULIA, URBANA, INGENUA, SATURNUS. ON THE APPIAN WAY, IN THE CEMETERY OF CALLISTUS.
From the Martyrologies.
CommentaryPaternus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Gallicolus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Urbana, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Indicus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Seleucus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Felix, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Clenicus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Crescentius, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Calonica, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Julia, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Urbana II, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Ingenua, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
Saturnus, Roman Martyr on the Appian Way (S.)
G. H.
In the second place these Martyrs are celebrated in the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology and in the MS. codex of the Queen of Sweden which Holstenius praises: where, after the cited Calocerus and Parthenius, it is thus read: Likewise in the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way the birthday of SS. Paternus, Gallicolus, with nine others. Which eleven by their names the said Martyrologies of S. Jerome explain: and the Blume MS. indicates them thus: In the cemetery of Calestus on the Appian Way the birthday of Paternus, Galicorus, Orbana, Indicus, Seleucus, Felix, Clonicus, Crescentius, Calonica, Julia, likewise Orbana. Who in the same number and order are indicated in the Lucca; but the names of three, of those Paternus, Galigorus, and Incidus are written. In the Echternach MS., the palaestra of martyrdom being omitted, in the place of Paternus and Gallicorus are the names of Prennus, and Gallus, Curus, as if there were two distinct Martyrs, then of Urbanus the Confessor mention is made: but because near the end is repeated likewise Urbana, the reading of others seems to prevail: besides in the place of Clonicus and Julia are named Donicus and Julica. In the Corbie MS. printed at Paris is wanting in the first place the name of Orbana or Urbana, and afterward Urbanus is written: likewise in the place of Clonicus and Crescentius, is the name of Aelonicus and Christus, near the end are added the names of Ingenua and Saturnus, which in others are wanting. In the Tamlacht MS. are the names, Paternus, Gallus, Curius, Urbana, Judicius, Seleucus, Felix, Clorinus, Crescentius, Colonia, Julia, Urbana. Who as Leader and Standard-bearer of the others is Paternus, the palaestra being omitted, is indicated in the MSS. Aachen, Augsburg of S. Udalric, and Paris of Labbe; but wrongly is joined the name of the Martyr Caestus, since the cemetery of Callistus is indicated. The same Paternus is called Bishop in the MSS. Trier, the double Liège of S. Lambert and S. Lawrence, likewise in the MS. Florary; and under the name of Parthenus in the Prague MS. In the MSS. Reichenau and Rheinau is celebrated the memory of Urbanus and Seleucus, and in the Aachen MS., and in Grevenus and Canisius Urbanus Pope and Confessor is called. But by others Urbana rather, or Orbana, and to these Martyrs is joined. Of the famous cemetery of Callistus treats Aringhi book 3 of Subterranean Rome chapter 11; of the same we have often had to treat. The body of some Martyr Paternus, from Gregory XV received, is preserved at Bologna in the temple of S. Francis, of which consult Masinus in Bologna surveyed.