ON SS. EUSEBIUS, ROMANUS, MELETIUS, CHARALAMPES, CHRISTINA, AND COMPANIONS. MARTYRS AT NICOMEDIA. HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
On their cult at Constantinople, and on the Martyrdom endured at Nicomedia, and perhaps amplified for the adorning of a certain fable.
Eusebius, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Romanus, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Meletius, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Charalampe, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Christina, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
Companions, Martyrs at Nicomedia (SS.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
The MS. Menaea of Milan of the Ambrosian Library, marked with the letter
O and number 148, and certain Turin ones of the Duke of Savoy, Elogium I designate the said Martyrs in these words. The Contest of the holy Martyrs Eusebius, Romanus, Teletius, Charalampes, and Christina; and the multitude of the Saints burned at Nicomedia. Their synaxis is in the martyrium of the holy Virgin-Martyr Heraïs: at the day May XXX. Elogium II The Contest of the holy Martyrs Eusebius, Romanus, Teletius, Charalampes, Christina, and of the multitude of the Saints of Nicomedia burned with fire. Their solemnity is celebrated in the martyrium of the holy Virgin and Martyr Heraïs.
Somewhat more accurately in the MS. Synaxarium of the Church of Constantinople the same things are thus set forth: On the same day the Contest of the holy Martyrs Eusebius, Romanus, Meletius, Charalampes, Christina, and of the multitude of the Saints burned at Nicomedia. Their synaxis is in the martyrium of the holy Euphemia, which is near the holy Martyr Laurence in the Petrion, and of the holy Martyr Hieraïs: On the same day the Contest of the holy Martyrs Eusebius, Romanus, Meletius, Charalampes and Christina, and of the multitude of the Saints of Nicomedia burned with fire. Their solemnity is celebrated in the martyrium of the holy Martyr Euphemia, which is near the church of S. Laurence in the Petrion, and of the holy Martyr Hieraïs.
[2] That there were four Churches at Constantinople dedicated to S. Euphemia, The cult in the oratory of SS. Euphemia and Heraïs, Codinus teaches in On the Origins of Constantinople, and it can seem here to be understood either that one, of which he makes mention on page 60 near the end in these words, The Monastery of S. Euphemia and the tombs which are in the Petrion, Basil the Macedonian founded, and there shore his daughters as nuns: or the other, which the same Codinus on page 47 calls S. Euphemia surnamed Petrea, which Anastasius Dicorus and his wife Ariadne built. Which of these is near the Church of S. Laurence, we cannot understand from Codinus: but neither does the most diligent Cangius, in his Christian Constantinople, know any church of S. Laurence in the Petrion. All things meanwhile weighed, I think that near a church of this kind in the Petrion there existed some oratory or chapel, besides the Churches of S. Euphemia already indicated, common to the two holy Virgins and Martyrs, namely Euphemia and Heraïs or Hieraïs, who on September XXIII is venerated by the Greeks, but in the Roman Martyrology the day before under the name of Iraïs. But that her Relics were brought thither out of Egypt I would believe rather, than that one different from her is here noted, whose memory on this day is bidden to be made. But then that place in the Claromontane would more conveniently be read thus: Their solemnity, namely on account of the Relics brought to the same place out of Nicomedia, is celebrated in the martyrium of S. Martyr Euphemia and the holy Virgin and Martyr Hieraïs, which is near the church of S. Laurence in the Petrion.
[3] In the MS. Menaea of Dijon, Christina and the Companions being omitted: four other Martyrs are divided into two classes. The first of these is referred to this day, SS. Romanus and Meletius 30 May, May XXX in these words: The holy Martyrs Romanus and Meletius are perfected by the sword. Sancti Martyres Romanus & Meletius gladio martyrium consummant. And these verses are added, alluding to the signification of the word Rhōmē, which is indeed the proper name of the City, but otherwise signifies Strength and Vigor. Romanus, breathing Strength together with Meletius, Comes with him to be consummated by the sword.
Robur Romanus Meletio aspirans, Socius eidem gladio feriendus venit.
Two others to the following day, May XXXI, thus celebrate the same Menaea. The holy Eusebius and Charalampes are perfected by fire. Sancti Eusebius & Charalampus igne vitam finiunt: then to the same is thus sung in addition. The two athletes, wholly burned by fire, Whirl as lambs toward the blazing fire.
Like lambs rolled about toward the burning fire, and 31 May SS. Eusebius and Charalampes. The two athletes are scorched utterly by fire.
The Arabo-Egyptian Martyrology, which at Rome in our Maronite College is kept in MS., celebrates the Contest of S. Eusebius and companions also on this day: nor do we doubt, but that it pertains hither.
[4] Of the multitude burned with fire at Nicomedia what shall I say? Christians burned at Nicomedia, It is long ago that the Acts of SS. Indes and Domna seemed to me similar to the Acts of SS. Alpheus, Cyrinus, and Philadelphus; that is, a concatenated series of martyrdoms, contracted into one narration with poetic license rather than historical faith; of which perhaps each single one has some foundation in truth, but all coordinated together are a mere fable. This our suspicion we began to make public in the Metrical Calendar of the Greeks at December XXVI, by saying that it must seem little likely, that in the time of the persecutions the Christians had a church at Nicomedia so ample, that it might hold fourteen thousand men, as many as are said to have assembled to celebrate the Lord's Nativity, and likewise to have been burned together with the same. Add that from the conflagration of so great a building a fire ought to have been feared for the whole city: but who would believe this to have been commanded by Diocletian, a Prince prudent and politic if any other was? And so the foundation of a fiction so unlike the truth we have perhaps in the multitude of those burned here indicated, who being caught together spending the Lord's day in some suburban hut, but in number far more moderate, when flames were cast upon it dreadful to no neighborhood, perished; and there were entombed, after peace was restored to the Church they were brought to Nicomedia; whence afterward Constantinople obtained something. they seem to have given occasion to the fiction of 26 December to be examined, But of these the chief were those who are named in the title; but Melitius and Romanus, having escaped the flames, since they remained constant in the profession of the faith, consummated their martyrdom by the sword in the very place, their bodies nonetheless being cast back into the common pyre of the others. If there existed Acts, which seem to have existed, we could define something more certainly: meanwhile I scarcely doubt but that they suffered on this day, not however in the night following the Lord's Nativity, although the author of the Acts already noted wished to add this circumstance also to others devised by himself. But the cause of so firmly thinking thus is, that three transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology, the Lucca, the Corbie, and the Blume, conclude with these words: At Nicomedia the birthday of many saints: which same things are read in the Appendix of Ado in Mosander and Rosweyde: for which words Notker has: At Nicomedia of many Martyrs. But from the three aforesaid transcripts the most ancient Epternach one does not depart, except that for Nicomedia it names Numidia; by which however we are little moved, knowing that copy, though more ancient than the rest, to be yet more faulty than they, nor can its faults be better corrected than by a comparison instituted with others.
ON SAINT EUPLIUS MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.
From the MS. Synaxarium of Dijon.
CommentaryEuplius, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)
D. P.
The MS. Synaxarium which at Dijon in our College we found in the keeping of P. Peter Francis Chifflet, indicates to us this Martyr in these words. The holy Martyr Euplius, wrapped in the hide of an ox and set in the sun, is perfected. Sanctus Martyr Euplius, in the hide of an ox wrapped, and exposed to the sun, is crowned with martyrdom. These verses then are added: They scorch in the sun the ox-wrapped Euplius, Who see not the light of the spiritual sun. Wrapped in the hide they scorch Euplius with the sun, Who do not see the light of the spiritual sun.