ON SS. EPICTITUS OR EPITACIUS, APTONUS, BASILIUS, AND ANOTHER APTONUS, MARTYRS IN SPAIN.
CRITICAL COMMENTARY.
On the knowledge of names in the Martyrologies, the Episcopate attributed to one of the three former, various figments concerning S. Epitacius.
Epictitus or Epitacius, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Apton, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Basilas, Martyr in Spain (S.)
Apton the other, Martyr in Spain (S.)
BY G. H.
Many things concerning these Saints are intricate: that they may be better grasped by the reader, what we have found in the ancient Martyrologies about them, we will first report. In the most ancient apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Memory in the Hieronymian Martyrology, which is preserved among the Epternacenses written nearly a thousand years ago, these things are read: "10 Kalends of June, of the Spaniards Epictus and Aptonus … Basilius the Bishop, likewise Aptonus." In the Lucensian apograph, edited by Florentinus, they are had thus: "In Spain, the Birthday of SS. Epictitus, Aptonus, Basilius the Bishop, likewise Aptonus." In the Manuscript apograph Blumian is written "Basilius the Bishop and twice Optonus." In the Corbeian apograph printed at Paris, "Basilius the Bishop and twice Aptonius," to which at the end is added the name of Jocundus: which addition is suspect, because more often in that apograph it is found added at the end, although in others it is lacking. Therefore that "Epictus" is written in the former, twisted it appears, and with others should be read "Epictitus." In the same Manuscript was interposed the memory of S. Desiderius; but by an easy slip of the copyists.
[2] Thus far the apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology: now let us inspect the rest. And first S. Basilius the Bishop with three others, namely indicated, are remembered in the Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, published by Holsten. The ancient Roman of Cardinal Barberini, in the supplement to Bede has these things: and others, at least three, "In Spain, birthday of SS. Epictitus, Aptonus, Basilius the Bishop." Some ancient Manuscript Corbeian hands down these things: "In Spain, birthday of SS. Epictitus, Aptonius." Manuscript Ado of the Liège monastery of S. Lawrence, likewise Manuscripts of Cologne S. Mary at the Steps and the Trier of S. Maximinus, "In Spain of Epictetus, Aptonus, Basilius the Bishop." Manuscript of the Cathedral Church of Prague, "In Spain of Epicticus, Basileus the Bishop, Aptotus," who better in the Manuscript of Liège S. Lambert and others reported is called Aptonus: of whom however the following Martyrologies are silent. And first the very ancient Trier of S. Maximinus: or two; and Basilius is held to be Bishop, "In Spain of Epictitus, Basilius the Bishop." Seven or eight Manuscripts of Usuard, but supplemented, which we have, have these things: "In Spain the birthday of SS. Epicticus and Basileus the Bishop." In the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in the year 1490 and at Greven, is added, "Martyrs." Carmelite Manuscript: "In Spain of B. Basileus the Bishop and Epulitus the Martyr," where by the error of the copyist Epulitus was written for Epictitus. Manuscripts of the Cassinian monastery and the Roman of Duke Altempsius: "In Spain of S. Basilius the Bishop." So thus far Basilius is in all called Bishop, and without that title is reported Epictitus. Each is also without that title in the Manuscripts of Aachen, Augsburg of S. Udalric and Parisian of Labbe, and in Notker. Again each with that title is remembered in the Manuscripts of Reichenau and Reichenau (Rhinoviensian): but the names are written Epicterius the Bishop and Basis the Bishop. Petrus de Natalibus in book 11, chapter 130, number 148, says, "Epiticus and Basileus Bishops in Spain shine on the 10th Kalends of June."
[3] But on the contrary the order related above is changed in the Martyrology of Bellinus, by others Epitacius is called Bishop. according to the custom of the Roman curia about the year 1498 printed at Venice, in which these things are read: "In Spain of Epitacius the Bishop and Basileus." There followed Maurolycus, Felicius, Molanus, Canisius, Galesinius with today's Roman. Cited which, both are reported by Ambrosius Morales in his General Chronicle of Spain printed in the year 1574 in book 10 chapter 28, and John Marieta in the Ecclesiastical History of the Saints of Spain printed in the year 1596 in book 2 chapter 32. The same have Basilius Sanctorus, Villegas, and others in the Flores Sanctorum, Padilla in the Ecclesiastical History of Spain century 4, chapter 31. And these assert that nothing else can be known about them. We find them in the cited Manuscript Martyrology of the Queen of Sweden attributed to Valencia, a city of the Spains: but in the Manuscripts of Reichenau and Reichenau (Rhinoviensian) to the city of Mérida.
[4] You have collected, for the favor of the Spaniards, more than forty testimonies of ancient Martyrologies and writers, to which we could add the silence of the rest, who flourished before this 17th century: Some things about them are reckoned fabricated, when at last there were excogitated, and under the mask of ancient writers came forth very many figments, which led even erudite men into error. So Prudentius Sandovallius Bishop of Tuy, established as the first Bishop of his Church S. Epitacius, of whom we treat here: of which the chief argument is taken from a certain fragment written under the name of Athanasius, who would have been the first Bishop of Saragossa. Of him we made some mention on May 15, where on the Coming of the 7 Bishops, sent by SS. Peter and Paul into Spain, we treated; and from these we judged Athanasius should be removed. Yet that he was not fabulous, but truly a companion of those first Bishops, this fragment edited under his name, indeed figment, is not at once to be approved:
[5] "I knew S. Peter, the first Bishop of Braga: as if by S. Peter Bishop of Braga in his century the Bishops were consecrated. whom S. James the son of Zebedee my Master raised up an ancient Prophet. This man had come with twelve tribes, sent by Nebuchadnezzar into Spain from Jerusalem, with the leader Nebuzaradan or Pyrrhus the Prefect of the Spaniards. He was called this Prophet Samuel the younger, or Malachi the elder, on account of the gravity of his morals and the beauty of his face, son of Uriah the Prophet. Made Bishop he converted many of the Jews to the faith, saying that he had come with their elders and had preached to those who were transmigrated; and that he had died in the 20th year after their coming into the Spains. This Apostolic man, having received from S. James Apostolic institutions, the Gospel and the Order of Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments, came to Braga. He wrote Letters full of the Apostolic spirit to the Churches: in which he established Bishops, as Iriensian, Amphilochiensian, Eminiensian, Portuensian, where he placed S. Basileus his fellow disciple (who, with him by martyrdom taken away, succeeded in the See of Braga) Epitacius in Tuy. These divine and plainly Apostolic men, like the Apostles, did not always remain in one city, but where the Holy Spirit snatched them they were borne: as Epitatius, who not only in the Tuy diocese, but also in the city of Lusitania Ambratia preached. Who with signs and variety of tongues … illustrated their preaching: nor did they go to preach alone, but accompanied by many disciples, as Christ did, Peter, James, and the rest of the Apostles."
[6] These things in Sandovallius the said Athanasius. We treated of S. Peter Bishop of Braga on April 26, in the Appendix page 1001 and following, other fictitious things asserted by various authors. judging him rather to have lived in the fifth century of Christ: and we exploded this hitherto unheard resurrection of his from the dead, and other adjuncts, as plainly fabulous: therefore we need not delay refuting them again here. The second of Sandovallius's argument, is taken from the equally fictitious Chronicle of Dexter, in which these things are inserted: "In the year 277 flourishes the memory at Tuy of S. Epictetus their first Bishop, disciple of S. Peter of Braga: He is believed to have suffered most grievous tortures under the beginning of Nero." Similar things are had for the year 268. There is added a writing of Julianus the Archpresbyter of the same flour in these words: "In the year 252 at Tuy and elsewhere flourishes the memory of S. Epitacius, Bishop of Tuy and Martyr." Finally to that reckoning seems forged the Martyrology, which when it shall come forth in full, a right judgment can be made about it. Of no greater authority is what from the equally fictitious Chronicle of Maximus Bishop of Saragossa is so produced: "In the year 583, from the ruins of Ambratia, where S. Epitatius, first Bishop of Tuy, suffered, Neufila Bishop of Tuy translated the Relics to Tuy: Anastasius the Bishop consecrated a building to him." Meanwhile relying on such authorities Sandovallius, in his treatise printed in the year 1619, was followed by Rodericus de Acunha in the History of the Church of Oporto and Braga, Francis Bivarius and Rodericus Carus on Dexter, and chiefly John Tamajus Salazar in his particular book on the Acts of S. Epitacius edited in the year 1646, and finally in the Spanish Martyrology on this May 23: which one curious of such matters may approach, or also the Lusitanian Hagiology of George Cardosus afterwards edited.