Antonia
Acta Sanctorum, May 4
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-04/antonia.html
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ON SAINT ANTONIA.

MARTYR AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA.

[Commentary]

Antonia, Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.)

G. H.

The ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology,
the Epternach and Blume, thus
this day begin: [Memory in the Martyrology of S. Jerome,] IV Nones of May.
At Nicomedia of Antonia. In the Apograph
of Lucca is read: At Nicomedia the birthday
of S. Sinesius, of Antonia. But S. Sinesius seems to be he
whose body is at Lucca, and there this day is venerated, and accordingly
in the first place ought to have been named, then added, At Nicomedia
of Antonia. In the same way that in the MS. Corbie at Paris
printed is added Justus, seems the Bishop and Martyr
of Vienne to be, also this day reported, of whom below it will be treated.
Let it remain therefore the constant reading of the Hieronymian Martyrology
this: At Nicomedia of Antonia. Nor does it hinder that
in the Epternach these with the following Martyrs are subjoined
to the preceding day, because that by the error of the copyists done
to have been from other apographs is manifest, and is confirmed from
the following Martyrologies; of which the first be of Florus, in
his auctarium to Bede, in the MSS. Arras, Tournai
and Liessies, where these are read, IV Nones of May. At Nicomedia
the birthday of S. Antonia, [the eulogy in Florus and others.] who exceedingly twisted and with various torments afflicted, from one arm for three days
hung up, and in prison for two years confined, by Priscillian
the Governor with flames burned, died. Which same things in almost the same
phrase are read in Ado, Usuard, Notker,
Bellinus, the author of the Martyrology falsely ascribed to Bede, Maurolycus,
Galesinius, and in the chief MS. codices and
at length in the present Roman Martyrology, in which also
at the last by Priscillian the Governor in the confession
of the Lord with flames burned to have been she is said. The same are read
in Peter de Natalibus book 4 chapter 123 citing the Martyrology
of S. Jerome, in which her mention to be made we showed.
Vincent of Beauvais also book 13 of the Speculum Historiale
has the same.

[2] In the same ancient codex Epternach, these as
proper to this day are read: IV Nones of May, in the city Nicia
the birthday of Antonina. [S. Antonina Martyr at Nicaea,] Of the same Antonia mention is made in
the MSS. Paris of Labbe, and Hibernian of the monastery of Tamlacht.
In the MSS. Reichenau and Rheinau is held:
In the city Nicaea of Antoninus. But an easy error of one final
letter could have crept in, since another Antoninus
Martyr this day is reported. But we S. Antonina the Martyr
at Nicaea in Bithynia celebrated on the very Kalends
of March. [March 1:] And what most pertains here, we subjoined the eulogy
of another, perhaps Antonina the Martyr, from the MS. Greek
Synaxarion, in which she is said in the times of Diocletian and
Maximian and Priscillian the Governor with scourges on the breasts
beaten, [whether the one there reported pertains here.] on wood hung, on the sides scorched,
and over a fiery gridiron stretched, and with awls
glowing and fiery little spits in the hands and ankles
transfixed, and then for two years with all hardships to be consumed
in prison left, and at length into the sea cast.
To which in the Menaea is added, that unharmed
to land restored, she was with stones overwhelmed, and at length
beheaded. In the Menology of Sirletus she is said under Priscillian
the Governor, with beatings slain, on wood hung,
on the sides torn, with awls pierced, with flames burned, [as also reported June 12.]
finally with the sword struck, with martyrdom crowned. These things there
more largely can be read, and although at Nicaea in Bithynia she is said to have
suffered, perhaps nevertheless this is the same, who here at Nicomedia
in Bithynia is handed down crowned, although that one Antonina,
this one Antonia is called. The same of S. Antonina are read
on the day XII of June, in the Menology of Basil the Emperor,
the Synaxarion MS. Paris and the Menaea, and in the Martyrology
Roman.

[3] In the MS. Martyrology of Prague of the Cathedral Church,
and in another Prague proper on this IV of May is said Charles
the King, or IV Emperor of that name, [The head of S. Antonia at Prague.] the head of S. Antonia
the Martyr to have given to the Church of Prague. In the Diary
of the same Church edited by John Peßina Dean of Prague
and Bishop of Samadria it is only said, a part of the head was brought
from Italy with many other relics of saints
in the year MCCCLV; but in the Bosphorus or Majesty and glory
of that Church, which the same author published in the year 1673 and to us
donated sent, page 463 where of those relics and of others
mention is made, is added, that the Testimonials of all from that journey
Roman, on which the Crown received Charles, brought
to this day exist in the Archive of the Chapter: but these since afterward
they were sought could not be found, was answered to us.
There is celebrated, by faculty from Innocent IV the Pontiff granted,
the feast of the bringing of the relics on the second day of January, as
there in the Appendix page 1084 we said. But whether it be
this Antonia who suffered at Nicomedia is not at once clear.

[4] The same by Bivar to the supposititious Chronicle of Dexter
is feigned Antima to be called: because there at the year 100 number 3 these
are read: Antima Maximilla wife of Ægeas, [wrongly she is feigned to be Antima Maximilla.] of Patrae
in Achaia Proconsul, by B. Andrew converted,
into a cave she hid herself after the death of her husband. Was she
of Novum Comum, of Pliny the Younger a kinswoman, afterward she married
C. Fonteius Capito; and into Nicomedia carried,
for the faith of Christ on May IV she suffers. Which it does not please
to sift, since they lack a due foundation. And first whence
is it proved that Maximilla be called Antima; and that
others err, while they write S. Antonia in the place of Antima?
She is said Maximilla by the interpolators of Abdias, wife of Ægeas
the Proconsul, but this to others plainly incredible seems, and it will be
on the Life of S. Andrew more largely to be sifted. Meanwhile consult
Andreas Saussay book 3 on the Glory of S. Andrew the Apostle
chapter 20 article 2 and 3. Tamayo Salazar of this S. Martyr
Antima in his Spanish Martyrology plainly keeps silent, although
otherwise the fables of Dexter everywhere he embraces.
