Roman Martyrs
Acta Sanctorum, May 10
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-10/roman-martyrs.html
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ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS
CALEPODIUS THE PRESBYTER, PALMATIUS THE CONSUL AND XLII OTHERS, SIMPLICIUS THE SENATOR AND LXVIII OTHERS, FELIX AND BLANDA THE SPOUSES.

IN THE YEAR 222.

[Preface]

Calepodius the Presbyter, Roman Martyr (St.)

Palmatius the Consul, Roman Martyr (St.)

XLII Others, Roman Martyrs — Simplicius the Senator, Roman Martyr (St.)

LXVIII Others, Roman Martyrs — Felix, a spouse, Roman Martyr (St.)

Blanda, a spouse, Roman Martyr (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G.H.

The history of the martyrdom of these athletes is contained
in the very ancient Acts of the martyrdom of S. Callistus or
Calixtus the Roman Pontiff, which are handed down to have been written by
the Roman Notaries, in exactly the same
manner, [the Acts of SS. Urban & Callistus written by Notaries,] in which the Acts of the Martyrdom of S. Urban the Pope, his successor,
which are illustrated on the XXV of May, are also said to have been written by
the Notaries of the Roman Church. There flourished at that time
S. Anterus, afterward Roman Pontiff, who diligently sought out
the deeds of the Martyrs from the Notaries, & laid them up in the church;
so that for that very reason in the Preface to the ancient
Catalogues of the Roman Pontiffs, published by us before the first volume
of April, we judged that the former
part of the first Catalogue seemed to have been collected by him as far as the said Urban the Pope,
& by others afterward supplied. Why then
should we not also reckon that the Acts of these two Pontiffs were written by one & the same
Anterus & laid up in the church?

[2] [From his Acts,] The things which pertain to S. Callistus, we have from very ancient
MSS.: the Treves MS. of S. Maximinus, the St.-Omer MS. of the Cathedral church,
the Marchiennes MS. near Douai, the Louvain MS. of S. Martin
submitted by Lord Vlimerius, as also others from the CL. V. Puteanus
received, besides our two illustrious ancient codices.
They were also published two hundred years ago by Joninus Mombritius,
& then in the collection of the Lives of the Saints printed at Cologne & 
Louvain in the year 1483 & two years after, [the elogia of these Martyrs taken thence.] & afterward,
but with the phrasing here & there corrected, by Laurentius Surius. From
these Acts about SS. Calepodius, Palmatius, Simplicius composed
illustrious elogia the Venerable Bede, in the genuine Martyrology
published by us before the second volume of March, Rabanus,
Ado, Usuard, Notker, & other later Martyrologists,
which may be seen among them. In their place we give the greater
part from the Acts of S. Calixtus the Pope, because this pertains to these Martyrs:
[& the history of the Passion which is here given.] to which we add the things which in the present Roman Martyrology
are contained in these words: At Rome of B. Calepodius
the Presbyter & Martyr, whom the Emperor Alexander
caused to be slain with the sword, & his body to be dragged through the city,
& to be cast into the Tiber: which being found Callistus
the Pope buried. There was also beheaded Palmatius
the Consul, with his wife & sons & forty-two others of both
sexes from his household: Simplicius also
the Senator, with his wife & sixty-eight of his
household: likewise also Felix with his wife Blanda: whose
heads were hung up through the various gates of the City as an example
to the Christians. These things there.

[3] It is said below in the Acts that S. Calepodius was slain on
the day of the Kalends of May, on which day also SS. Calepodius,
Palmatius & companions are inscribed in the MS. Martyrology of Carolus
Strozzi the Florentine Senator, & are named by Grevenus
& Canisius. But S. Palmatius was on the sixth of the Ides
of May buried in the cemetery of the same Calepodius: [the cemetery of S. Calepodius,] & it is added
in Ado & others, at the third mile from the City. Of
the cemetery of Calepodius treats Aringhus in book 2 of volume 1 of Rome subterranean
chapter 12, where he doubts whether B. Calepodius first
built it or certainly restored it; or rather whether it was merely
distinguished by his name, because his sacred
body was buried there; in that S. Julius the Senator
& S. Antonius, slain under the Emperor Commodus,
on the XIX & XXII of August, are reported to be buried in the cemetery
of Calepodius. Commodus indeed was deprived of life
about thirty years before S. Calepodius was crowned with
martyrdom, & in the Acts Calepodius is called an aged Presbyter:
yet he could as a young man have built that which a contemporary author
called his cemetery. The place there
in num. 7 Aringhus describes, & toward the end has these things: What
in this cemetery is singular, a perpetual vein of crystalline
water flows thence, which under the bitter times of the persecutions
the holy Martyrs, not only for drinking,
but also for imparting the saving
laver of Baptism, to those who were being led over to the faith,
once used, it is fitting to believe. Then
in num. 8 about the translation of the body of S. Calepodius & of others
he has these things: But the bodies of the most blessed Martyrs, Callistus
& Julius the Pontiffs, [thence the body translated to the church of S. Maria across the Tiber.] & also of Calepodius the Presbyter,
which once here, as we said, had been laid,
were afterward honorably translated to the title of the same Callistus,
namely into the church of S. Maria 
across the Tiber, where to this very day the images
of the same, expressed in mosaic work, in the greater apse
of the church are looked up to.

[4] We illustrated the Acts of S. Julius the Pope on the XII day of April, where
we said, the bodies of these Saints by Innocent
II, in the XII century of Christ, were placed under the greatest altar &
adorned with a marble cover. The mosaic work of the same Innocent II,
which Aringhus mentions, since it is covered with the soot of antiquity,
in a place receiving little light, is with difficulty
discerned; & it is in danger of perishing before this
church too, with the same majesty with which several other Roman churches now shine
& gleam, be reformed; I judged it worth the trouble
to take care that its delineation, as accurate as the malign light & the voracity of time
allow, be received by a skilled hand,
& engraved in copper.

But since the form of our work does not admit so long an image,
as may be commensurate with the whole semicircle of that apse [where its image among the Saints:]
with a carving of proportionate length; we have so divided
into two the one order of Saints which is there, that the throne of Christ
embracing the Mother of God, together with the attendants on this side
Peter & on that side Calixtus, are left in the upper
order; but the lower order let them occupy, on this side Laurentius &
Innocent, who on one side attend Calixtus; on that side, who fill the other side after Peter, Cornelius, Julius
& Calepodius. His Life moreover at Rome itself in the year
1661 in the aforesaid Church of S. Maria across the Tiber from
MS. proper Offices; but from the greater Acts contracted
we found it: but toward the end it was thus held, that the body afterward
was carried away to the church of S. Maria across the Tiber, & under
the greater altar was laid up. The same Pancirolius confirms
in the Treasury of the city, adding that some of his Relics are
in the church of S. Maria in the Campus Martius & in some church
of S. Paul the Apostle.

[5] [his relics elsewhere:] The other Martyrs reported above were also buried in the cemetery
of Calepodius, the same Pancirolius judges;
because by an equal contest they had gained the palm of consummated
Martyrdom. But the Relics of S. Palmatius King Charles
brought into his castle Karlstein, where under the same
castle in honor of the same Saint he founded a parish
church. So the Martyrology of the Church of Prague written
two hundred years ago. In the Diary of the Relics of Prague
it is said, of S. Palmatius the Roman Martyr a part of the arm,
which the Emperor Charles IV had brought from Rome
in the year 1355. [his companions' at Prague, Coimbra, Bologna] That the head of S. Palmatius has long been preserved
at Coimbra in the church of the Holy Cross of the Canons
Regular, Cardosus relates in the Lusitanian Hagiology. But
that some Relics of S. Simplicius the Senator are preserved at Bologna 
in the church of S. Paul of the Barnabites, & of the Nuns
of the name Jesus Maria in the street Galleria, relates in Bologna
surveyed Masinus.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
Written by the Roman Notaries.

Calepodius the Presbyter, Roman Martyr (St.)

Palmatius the Consul, Roman Martyr (St.)

XLII Others, Roman Martyrs — Simplicius the Senator, Roman Martyr (St.)

LXVIII Others, Roman Martyrs — Felix, a spouse, Roman Martyr (St.)

Blanda, a spouse, Roman Martyr (St.)

BHL Number: 1523

By the Roman Notaries.

[1] In the times [a] of Macrinus & Alexander, by a divine
conflagration [b] was burned up part of the Capitol on
the Meridian side, [a public conflagration & some struck by lightning,] & within the temple of Jupiter the left hand
of gold fell, & was melted. But there came the soothsayers
& priests to Alexander, saying that with sacrifices
& odors their gods should be appeased. This being heard, Alexander
ordered their petition to be done. And while they were sacrificing,
suddenly, the sky being serene, in the morning of the day of Jove, by a divine
thunderbolt died four priests of the idols, & 
the altar of Jove was burned up by the conflagration: & there became a day
dark, so that all the Roman people fled forth
outside the walls. And while the people was dispersed in
flight, they came across the Tiber into the city to the temple
a multitude of Christians chanting: among whom
was Calixtus the Bishop with his Clergy. But hearing
this one of the [d] Consuls, by name Palmatius,
a multitude of Christians gathered in a certain
place, [S. Palmatius, still a heathen, imputes it to the Christians] announced to Alexander, saying: Great Prince,
this sign therefore has been made, because the city grows foul.
If therefore it shall be purified, we shall rejoice together at the glory
of your eminence, & the Republic will shine. Alexander
said: Let it be purified. Yet declare to us, what
is this purification? Palmatius answered: That there be no profane
ones. Alexander said: Who are the profane? Palmatius
answered: The Christians. Alexander said: I
commanded once & again, that wheresoever they were found
they should be punished, or should offer to the immortal gods
libations. Palmatius answered, saying: By
your splendor I heard, when I was sad
because of the sign which was made, how with songs
& incantations in a certain place there cried out in the region
across the Tiber a multitude of Christians: whence
it is no wonder, if this cause made this sign.

[2] Alexander said to him: Take power, that
wheresoever you find them, you may drag them to sacrifice,
to appease the Gods: or certainly with exquisite torments
afflict them. Then Palmatius, having received power, a
multitude of soldiers being collected, came across the Tiber, [to seize S. Calepodius he sends soldiers, who being blinded,] where
was gathered the multitude of Christians with B. Calixtus,
among whom was Calepodius the aged Presbyter: & 
coming into a certain upper room, ten soldiers entered:
& when all had entered; these ten
soldiers were suddenly made blind. Calepodius
the aged Presbyter answered & said: My sons, whom
do you seek? But they were crying out, saying: Kindle
for us lamps, because this place has become dark before us.
But Calepodius the Presbyter said: God who
sees all things, He has blinded your eyes. Then groping
they went down blinded. But when Palmatius had seen
these things, terrified with fear, fleeing he announced
all things to Alexander. On the same day therefore Alexander ordered
the soldiers, who had been made blind, to be led
into his sight. And when he had recognized the soldiers, he began to cry out:
O best citizens! see the magic art. Palmatius
answered, & said: If by the magic art
this was done, where are the powers of our gods?
Let therefore your piety order them to be brought & immolated
to the gods, lest the Republic perish because of their incantations.
And Alexander commanded that there be immolated to Mercury, [he takes care that sacrifices be offered to Mercury:]
& that he should learn the responses. But there went forth
a command to all the common people, that all to the Capitol
should hasten from the city of Rome; so that those who were found
in their dwellings on the day of Mercury, all should be slain;
& a herald being sent it was thus declared, that
all the common people on the day of Mercury without delay to the Capitol
with the Prince should assemble: but whoever did not hasten,
let him know that he was to be punished with death. The aforesaid
day occurring all the Roman people to
the Capitol hastened. Palmatius also with all
his household came to the Capitol with swine & calves.

[3] And [e] it came to pass that while in the slaughter of the cattle the blood
was poured out, & the priests chanted with songs; [terrified by the voice of a virgin,]
a virgin of the temple, by name Juliana, seized by a demon,
was crying out, saying: The God of Callixtus, He is the living
& true God: He is indignant at the pollutions of your
Republic, & will crush [f] your mortal kingdom, because
you do not adore the truth. Hearing this Palmatius, alone
ran to B. Calixtus in the region across the Tiber
in the city of the Ravennates; & cast himself headlong, [he hastens to S. Callistus to be baptized.]
& entered into the house where was gathered the multitude
of Christians: & fell at the feet of B. Calixtus, saying:
I have known Jesus Christ to be the true God,
whom the demons confessed today: by Him I
adjure you, that you free me from the worship of demons & stones:
the Bishop said to him: Do not deride the truth by erring.
Palmatius answered with tears, saying: Lord,
I do not deride: because I have known, in the blindness of the soldiers, & 
in the response of the virgin, that my Lord is your Christ.
Calepodius the elder answered & said
to the blessed Bishop: Most blessed Father, to one asking
baptism do not deny it. At the same time he enjoined
a fast on him for one day, & catechized him: & the water
brought from the spring of the well, which was in the same house,
he blessed: & Palmatius being set down in [h] a basin,
S. Calixtus the Bishop said to him: Do you believe with all your heart
in God the Father almighty, maker of things visible
& invisible? Palmatius answered: I believe.
And he said to him: And in Jesus Christ His son? And
again he answered: I believe. And he said to him: And in the Holy
Spirit, the Catholic Church, the remission
of sins, the resurrection of the flesh. [with 42 others of his household:] And Palmatius cried out
with a great voice with tears: I believe, Lord.
the Lord Jesus Christ, the true light, who
illumined me. And he baptized also all the household
of Palmatius, & his wife & sons, & of both sexes to the number
of forty-two. From the same day Palmatius began
to disburse all his substance to the poor Christians,
searching out regions & crypts, that wheresoever
he might find either in custody or hidden
Christians, from his substance he might minister food or clothing.

[4] But after [k] thirty-two days, Palmatius is sought
by Alexander; [bound before Alexander.] to whom it was announced that he is a Christian,
& persuades others. Then Alexander ordered
him to be presented. Who when he had been seized by a certain
Torquatus the Tribune, & sent into the [l] custody of the Mamertine;
after three days Torquatus indicated to Alexander,
that Palmatius was committed to custody. Then Alexander
rejoicing ordered him to be presented to him. And bound
with chains Palmatius enters before Alexander.
Whom when he had seen, he ordered him to be loosed, & said to him: Have you
become so mad, O Palmatius, that you forsake the gods, & seek
& worship a dead man? Palmatius was silent.
Alexander said to him: Speak confidently: do not fear.
Palmatius answered, saying: If you give license,
we speak the truth. Alexander said to him: Except
the injury of the gods, speak. Palmatius said to him:
Best Prince, if you observe, they are not gods, but
they are the making of mortal men. [he professes the faith:] Now indeed
let your gentleness know, who ought to be worshipped: those who
are made or fabricated by mortals, what kind they are, do you
judge. But I, unhappy, beseech your splendor:
say to your god that he may speak, & when I shall have asked
let him answer: & when this is done, I do not forsake
your gods, whom you call them. Alexander said to him: And
how from your cradle did you adore these, & now do you leave
them? Palmatius answered: I did as one unhappy:
but now I have known what is true, concerning which
matter I beseech the Lord Jesus Christ, that He may pardon
me, [he is handed over to S. Simplicius the Senator,] because ignorant I sinned. At the same hour smiling
Alexander handed him over to a certain Simplicius the Senator,
saying: Have him with you without any fear: & 
with soft words recall him to the worship of the gods:
for the Republic has such a man as necessary.
Palmatius being received, Simplicius the Senator clothed him
with noble garments brought, & led him into his
house. Which Simplicius commanded his wife, & 
the elders of his house, that all the house of Simplicius
he should have in his power. Then Palmatius giving himself to fasts & 
prayers of vigils, did not cease with tears
to pray to God the Father almighty, & Jesus
Christ His son, that he might do penance for
his error.

[5] But there came to him a certain one Felix by name,
whose wife lay sick four years in bed, he cast
himself at the feet of Palmatius, saying: Confessor of our
Lord Jesus Christ, entreat for your handmaid my wife
Blanda, that she may be freed from the bed of sorrow: & I will receive
baptism with her; because it is long that she is held by the
paralytic disease, & now our substance has failed.
Then Palmatius, the wife of Simplicius being present, fell
to the ground, [he heals the paralytic;] & with tears began to pray with Felix,
saying: Lord God, who didst illumine [m] thy servant,
give me the eternal light Jesus Christ: save thy handmaid
Blanda, & relieve her of the bed of sorrow: that all may know, that thou art the Creator of all
things. [SS. Felix & Blanda baptized] At the same hour came Blanda running with her own feet
to the house of Simplicius the Senator, saying: Baptize
me in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
held my hand & raised me up. Then Felix began
to urge B. Palmatius that she be baptized. At the same
hour B. Palmatius sent to S. Calixtus the Bishop:
& coming he baptized Felix with his wife Blanda.
Seeing this Simplicius, [& S. Simplicius with his family,] fell at the feet of Calixtus
saying, that with all his house he might be baptized. Then
B. Calixtus the Bishop confidently said: Let the Lord
gather the wheat into His barn; & he catechized
all the house of Simplicius, & his wife & sons & his family,
souls of both sexes about sixty-
eight. B. Calepodius the Presbyter filled with joy, began
to cry out in the house of Simplicius… Glory to thee Lord
Jesus Christ, who from darkness deignest to lead
to light thy creature, & to free from error: do
with thy servants according to thy mercy. [they are beheaded:] This
hearing Alexander, that a multitude of men had received baptism
through B. Calixtus the Bishop; he sent
an army of soldiers, & seized all who baptism
had received: whom he commanded to undergo the sentence of capital punishment,
& through the various gates of the city of Rome their heads
to be hung up, as an example to the Christians.

[6] But he also seized B. Calipodius, whom [n] he caused
to be slain with the sword, [The body of B. Calepodius is buried in his cemetery.] & the body to be dragged through the city on
the day of the Kalends of May: whose body he caused to be cast into the Tiber
before the [o] Lycaonian island. In those same days fled
B. Calixtus with his ten Clerics, & hid himself
in the house of a certain Pontianus by night, asking the fishermen
to seek the body of B. Calepodius the Presbyter. Which
being found, lifting it from the river, they reported to B.
Calixtus the Bishop. Then he was filled with joy. Which
holy body being received he embalmed with aromatics
& linen cloths, & with hymns, & buried him
in the cemetery of the same, on the sixth of the Ides of May [p] … When Calixtus
the Bishop was being macerated in custody, B. Calepodius
coming to him by night through a vision, consoled
him saying: Be firm, Father, because thy crown
is now perfected, that thou mayest receive the reward for me.

ANNOTATIONS.

in the year 217, Antoninus Caracalla being slain on the 8th day of April, Macrinus succeeded,
after a year & two months of Empire himself also slain. Then in the said
year 217, S. Zephyrinus the Pope dying on the 26th of August, S. Callistus the Pope succeeded. In whose
time, the said Macrinus being replaced, Heliogabalus lived until the 10th of March,
of the year 222; & to him succeeded M. Aurelius Alexander, who before, having been declared
Cæsar, directed all things: under the beginning of whose Empire these Martyrs
were slain.


that the transtiberine region was attributed by Augustus to the soldiers of the Ravenna
fleet, which thence was called the city of the Ravennates, as also the temple,
& the meritorious tavern, where now is the church of S. Maria. Consult what we noted at the Catalogues of the Supreme Pontiffs before volume I of April.


It came to pass that while the swine's & calf's blood was being poured out, & 
the priests & virgins reveled through the temple of the demon, one of them,
by name Juliana, seized began to cry out.



in the Life of S. Silvester, gave a basin of silver for baptism, weighing twenty pounds.







p. The rest about S. Calixtus here omitted, will be illustrated on the 14th day of October.



ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS
GORDIANUS AND EPIMACHUS. LIKEWISE PRIMULUS, AND MAJOR OR MEDON THE CONFESSOR.

IN THE YEAR 362.

[Preface]

Gordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)

Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

The Acts of the Martyrdom of S. Gordianus extant everywhere in
very many MS. Passionals, even of all
which we could see most ancient, & 
such were by Claudius Puteanus once communicated,
as also described from the MSS. Treves
of S. Maximinus, [The Acts of the Martyrdom from MSS.] of St.-Omer of the Cathedral Church, of Münster
of Bernandus Rottendorf, & two other codices ours,
which especially we used after we had collated them
with a triple codex of the Queen of Sweden numbers 13, 81 & 482.
Aringhus book 4 of Rome subterranean chapter 3 several MSS. alleges.
By type once published the same in Joninus Mombritius,
likewise in the Legend of Cologne & Louvain in the year 14
83 & two years after printed: such also referred to
this X of May Laurentius Surius, having prefaced that the diction in
favor of the reader somewhat had been polished: but we prefer
in the genuine style them to bring forth. In which lest offend the reader,
him Baronius in his to the Roman Martyrology Notes
admonishes, [under Julian absent.] those slaughterhouses, which at Rome on the Christians
to be exercised were wont in the times of Julian they say, not by
Julian himself, but by Apronianus the Prefect of the City instituted
… & their Martyrdoms rather under Julian
than before Julian at Rome were enacted. For him
after he obtained the Empire, at Rome at some time to have been,
by no of the approved ancient authors testimony
to be affirmed. While therefore here nearly about Julian it is treated
as if at Rome present, you know not to be these Acts
of the first authority: but at a notable after the deed done time
collected by someone, who as to the words, freely on either side in the judgment
held between Januarius the Presbyter & Gordianus still
a heathen, & the Prefect of the city rather than the Emperor's Vicar,
& again between the same now a Christian & his successor
Clementianus, seems to have followed the Notarial Acts; & 
in these a more certain faith to them can be given, though not the most certain.

[2] About S. Epimachus's martyrdom nothing elsewhere is read, but here
also nothing except in the end: for after it was said, that
On the way, which the Latin is called, not far from the city
of Rome, but as a milestone more or less one, there they laid
him (Gordianus namely) in a crypt on the sixth of the Ides
of May, where already long before S. Epimachus they had buried;
is added, In which also place the benefits of them & virtues
flourish even to the present day. In the MS. Utrecht
of S. Salvator, where the same Acts are contained but
contracted, toward the end these things are read: At length by his household
by night is seized Gordianus, & with B. Epimachus,
whose is also today the feast, whom long before the aforesaid
Julian had caused to be slain, he is buried. The Greeks both venerate
on the day 9 of May, & in the Menology of Basil the Emperor these things
are read: The Martyrs of Christ Epimachus & Gordianus
were from great & ancient Rome. [The cult among the Greeks 9 May.] But when Christ
they professed, apprehended by the idolaters they were,
& to the region's Governor handed over: by him ordered they were Christ
to deny & to idols to sacrifice. But because they did not consent,
atrociously they were beaten: then on woods hung, & 
with iron claws torn. But afterward from the woods to descend
they were compelled & into prison thrust, a fixed for them
time, in which if they repented, they could live. But
they themselves in prison detained, never to God prayers to offer
& to Him thanks to give ceased. Wherefore worthy held
they were on account of Him martyrdom to sustain: accordingly
after some days again from prison led out, & to manifold
tortures subjected, with a sword at last with the head
struck they were. These things in the said Basil the Emperor's Menology:
to which similar, but contracted, are had in the illustrious Synaxary
MS. Parisian of the College of the Society of Jesus, & in the Menæa
MS. of Milan of the Ambrosian library & of Turin
of the Duke of Savoy. From which this elogium formed
Sirletus in his Menology: The Contest of the holy Martyrs
Epimachus & Gordianus, who since they were from
the great city Rome, were detained. And when they were compelled
by the Governor to the gods to immolate & to idols to sacrifice, the nefarious
deed they refused: & for that very thing very many torments
undergoing, with an axe they were struck. These things the Greeks. Whether therefore
some time before Gordianus was Epimachus crowned,
as the Latin Acts seem to have, we leave undecided,
on account of the things which soon will be said.

[3] The Latins both refer to this X of May, & the most ancient
of the Hieronymian Martyrology apograph the Epternac
thus the day inaugurates: VI Ides. At Rome the passion of Gordianus. [by the Latins are added Medon or Major,]
At Rome of Epimachus & Midon Confessors. The Way
Latin to the hundred halls of Quartus & Quintus. About these two
separately we treat. The Corbey of the same Martyrology apograph
thus begins: VI Ides of May, At Rome the Latin way,
in the cemetery of the same the birthday of Gordianus, Julius. In the cemetery
of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday of S. Epimachus & 
of Major the Confessor, Quartus & Quintus. In the apograph
of Lucca these things are had: VI Ides of May at Rome the Latin way
in the cemetery of the same the birthday of S. Gordianus: & in the cemetery
of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday of S. Efiniacus & Major,
Corus, Quartus & Quintus. Which the same are had in the apograph Blumian, but toward the end is written of S. Epimachus & 
of Major the Confessor. In the MSS. Reichenau near Constance
& Rheinau in Helvetia these things are handed down: At Rome
of Gordianus & Epimachus & Major: for which Midon
is read in Grevenus. The MSS. Augsburg of S. Udalric
& Parisian of Labbé; At Rome of Gordianus & Epimachus.
Which two, the arena Rome omitted, also are joined in
the Casinensian MS. But in the other Casinensian MS. & the Roman
of the Duke of Altemps, the eve or IX of May, on which the Greeks them venerate,
are referred at Rome Gordianus & Epimachus. In the alleged
apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology & the Vatican
of S. Peter, is celebrated the memory, At Rome of Gordianus & Primolus, [& Primolas.]
or Primulus or Promolus: & without the arena of Gordianus
& Prinolus in the MSS. Augsburg & Parisian:
of Primulus alone in the Reichenau: What therefore? Whether
in the place of Epimachus was intruded the name of Primolus? Or indeed
Gordianus & Primolus are others to be reckoned, & from these diverse
Gordianus & Epimachus? Nothing of these to affirm
do we dare: & accordingly Primolus, as distinct, in the title
we have placed, with S. Major or Midon the Confessor, perhaps
in prison extinguished. We omit Julia in a single MS.
added, & perhaps from the following day, when Julius the Martyr
is referred.

[4] But let us return to the arena of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus,
whom hitherto at Rome ascribed we have found: [Whether at Rome they suffered?] & 
so jointly in the Calendars inserted, that together companions of the martyrdom
to have been they seem. Moreover in S. Gregory the Great in the book
of the Sacraments three prayers are extant in the Mass to be recited,
& hitherto in the Missal & Breviary are retained. Usuard
with this them elogium adorns: At Rome the Latin way the birthday of the holy
Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus. Of whom
the former for the confession of Christ's name, in the time of Julian,
long with leaden scourges is beaten & at the last is beheaded.
Rabanus very much from the Acts describes with these words,
Where already long before S. Epimachus they had buried. Or,
as in Ado is read: Where already long before the body
of the blessed Martyr Epimachus had been buried. Whether
more by Ado was added it can be doubted: for
with the said words ends his elogium in an old MS. of the Church
of the Morini, which at Ypres in the Cathedral Church is kept.
Nothing also more have Notker & Peter de Natalibus
book 4 chapter 129, who are wont Ado to describe. Aloysius
Lipomanus volume 4 on the Lives of the Saints page 167 writes
the Life of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus by Ado
collected, & with the cited before words it he ends. But
in the Martyrology of Ado, published by Mosander & Rosweidus, & 
in various MSS. these things are subjoined: This Epimachus at
Alexandria, [whether S. Epimachus at Alexandria?] with his colleague Alexander, much
time both in chains & in the tortures of prison tortured,
when in frequent & diverse punishments worn out
he had persisted in the faith, by fires at the last
is consumed: then his Relics to Rome were brought.
But above among the Greeks are said SS. Epimachus & Gordianus
beheaded, ὕστερον
τὰς
κεφαλὰς
ἀπετμήθησαν.
Whether therefore SS. Epimachus & Alexander are others to be reckoned
Martyrs? Bede in the genuine Martyrology only these things has:
VI Ides the Birthday of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus. But in
the Martyrology under his name supposititious, the same from Ado
cited are published, & are found in a single MS. codex ours
in the Life of these Martyrs, but not very ancient. In
the ancient Roman Breviaries, from two hundred years & thereafter
long printed, the elogium of these Martyrs from Ado taken
ends without mention of Alexandria. But in the Breviary,
by command of Pius V published, a Lesson one about these Martyrs is prescribed:
in which is read the body of S. Gordianus buried
in the same crypt, into which the Relics of B. Epimachus
the Martyr translated had been from Alexandria, where he long
on account of Christ's confession bound in prison,
at the last burned, with martyrdom was crowned. Which
the same hitherto are recited, also inserted in the present Martyrology
Roman, & it everywhere the more recent follow. Meanwhile
they do not cohere with the beginning of Ado, which such is: At Rome
the Latin way in the cemetery of the same SS. Gordianus
& Epimachus, whom Julian the apostate among many
Christians to the public custodies committed. Aringhus
book 4 of Rome subterranean chapter 3 writes the sacred S. Epimachus's
body, [whether also it is venerated 11 March,] first according to the Greeks' Menology,
on the day XI of the month of March, to Constantinople with becoming
honor translated to have been: this however only in the Index
of the Menology by Sirletus collected is read; in the very text omitted.
But the Greeks in the printed Menæa celebrate on the said XI of March,
the memory of the Relics of S. Epimachus the Martyr to Constantinople
brought, with a distich added with an allusion
to the holy city honored with S. Epimachus's body. Another
solemnity is at Constantinople of four Martyrs on
the day VI of July, [& 6 July?] when so is read in the MS. Greek Synaxary
Claromontane: Of the holy Martyrs Apollonius,
Alexander, Epimachus & Onesimus, whose celebrity
is held in the Hexacionium, or at the six columns. Georgius
Codinus on the Origins Constantinopolitan page 39
asserts; the pomerium of the city Constantinopolitan by Constantine
the great extended even to the Exacionium, above
the Hexacionium called. Here therefore recur Epimachus
& Alexander, above as colleagues held. But whether from
these not be diverse the Epimachus at Alexandria suffering,
who, while the Acts further are wanting, can certainly determine?
These rather to learned men to be proposed we judged, by whom if
more certain things be brought forth, with a grateful affection of mind we will receive,
about to give them on the day VI of July, or where occasion shall be
offered. The feast of these Martyrs at Rome to be celebrated in the church
of S. Laurence in Lucina, where their Relics are kept,
asserts Piazza in the Sanctuary Roman.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
From very ancient various MS. codices.

Gordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)

Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)

BHL Number: 3612

FROM MSS.

[1] In the times of Julian the most impious Emperor,
were divulged many Christians. And when
these things had heard the most impious Julian, with wrath full,
he ordered them to be held, & into public custody to be sent. There was
moreover among them a certain Christian, [S. Januarius the Presb. examines Gordianus the Vicar of Julian the Emp.] by name
Januarius, an old Presbyter. But after the third day
the most impious Julian the Emperor sent, & called to
him Gordianus his Vicar, & ordered him that Januarius
the Presbyter from his audience he should interrogate.
Then Gordianus the Vicar ordered to himself, as had charged
him the King, Januarius the Presbyter led out of
prison to be presented: to whom thus he said; Who are you called, or
of what nation yourself to be you show, most happy [b] orator,
declare to us. Answered S. Januarius the Presbyter, & 
said: If indeed the citizen to learn you wish, an Antiochene
I am: but if the nation, from Christian parents
Why us with many verbosities to deceive do you compel?
Now therefore hear me, & choose for yourself of two one
answer. Either sacrifice to the immortal gods, & be
a friend of the most unconquered Prince our Julian; or certainly
receive the sentence of nefarious [c] crimes. Answered
moreover S. Januarius the Presbyter, & said to
Gordianus: If you to me consent, I indeed myself
desire to my God to offer a sacrifice of placation;
yet whatever to me you say or promise, for my sins
I said, for my sins, not for justice. Answered
Gordianus & said to him: If for your sins all
punishments you merit, pour to the gods libations, that so you may merit
from us for their expiation to be saved. Answered therefore
S. Januarius the Presbyter & said: I indeed in the name
of my Lord Jesus Christ always saved I was, & 
as I believe, always saved I shall be, moreover also others saved [e]
I have made through the reception of His baptism [f], who desire
to be saved. For you if you had wisdom, with whole heart
indeed you would seek Him, & you would covet that you should find
rest for your soul after so great a tempest,
& you would have abiding life eternal.

[2] Then Gordianus the Vicar ordered him in house
his own under guard committed to be held. [by him in the faith he is instructed] Whom inspiring
the Lord by night calling together, he asserted that him
he wished with his words to delight. To whom S. Januarius the Presbyter
said: Son, do not lose your time, but
rather do penance for the bodies of the Saints
whom you have slain; & be baptized, that you may be able to find
rest everlasting [g], & in the fire eternal not be burned.
Gordianus the Vicar, with these words compunct,
said: And how secure shall I be, if washed I have been, that
I escape torments eternal. Answered S. Januarius the Presbyter
& said: I to you promise in the name of my Lord
Jesus Christ, that if with whole heart you shall believe
& baptized you shall have been, of all your crimes will be wiped away
the filth, so that you immaculate to the Lord Jesus
Christ may offer. Gordianus the Vicar said: Give
me the measure of believing. S. Januarius the Presbyter said:
That you confess in the name of the Father & the Son & the Holy
Spirit one Deity, & doing penance
you show yourself to have sinned. Then Gordianus the Vicar with
tears entered to his wife, by name Marina, [with Marina his wife,]
& narrated to her all the admonitions of S. Januarius the Presbyter.
Then his wife in that very hour of the night, holding
the hand of her husband, they came together to S. Januarius
the Presbyter: & falling to the ground they cast themselves at
his feet asking him that they be baptized by him, crying out
themselves to have sinned & saying to him: Redeem us
from our sins. To these answered S. Januarius
the Presbyter, saying to them: See whether with whole heart
you believe, or lest some veil in hidden things you hold,
because I know you by the Emperor to be honored. Answered
Marina & said: One likeness of Jove given
by the Emperor we have laid up, on account of which
the holy Martyrs are tortured: but what shall we do about
it now? Yet I will divulge to my Lord the way
through which also we may merit to obtain the crown of life,
when melted down by us it shall have been. But at the same hour introduced
Marina B. Januarius the Presbyter into her bedroom,
[& the idol of Jove cast out] & showed him the image of Jove of bronze
gilded, & a tripod of bronze. Which image
with the altar grasping B. Januarius, a fire being kindled
he melted down & cast into a sewer, & so with
great joy catechized Gordianus, [he is baptized with 53 others.] with Marina
his wife, & their family of both sexes in number
fifty-three; whom also with [h] their Lords
he baptized.

[3] At the same also time, after days fourteen,
sent to Gordianus the Vicar Julian the most impious
Caesar his Tribune, by name Clementianus,
saying to him: Go & see whether he has declined to sacrifice
to the great God Jove Januarius the Presbyter: [he professes the Christian faith:]

or if he has not persuaded him, then under a herald's voice in
the forum of Trajan with clubs let him be beaten. And was done this
which had charged the Emperor to Clementianus. Answering
moreover Gordianus, said to Clementianus: O
Clementianus, if you knew to be the Lord Jesus
Christ, both the threats & terrors of a mortal man not
would you fear: but rather you would see life eternal, just as also
I have seen now prepared for me. For the Priest holy
I will honor, & now not injure: whom
I seeing his feet do not disdain to kiss, through
whom also saved I have been. Then Clementianus going
to the palace crying out said, the chief magus
Januarius, who the Vicar Gordianus turned away
by his magic arts. And when he entered to the Emperor
Julian, he said to him; Januarius, whom your piety
on account of his genius of letters praised, this one we have known
a magus to be: who also has subverted your Vicar
Gordianus, with all his house & wife,
whom also he has baptized, & the gods of our Republic
melted by fire into a mass has hidden. Then Julian
the most impious Emperor, with wrath full, ordered
by inscriptions to be condemned S. Januarius the Presbyter
& B. Gordianus: [he is shut in prison:] to whom also a successor he gave
Clementianus in his place to be Vicar. Him
indeed B. Gordianus he charged to the public custody
to be committed: his wife moreover Marina in a certain
villa, which is called [l] At-the-Salvian-Waters, in the service
of rustics to be oppressed. But afterward he ordered, that Gordianus
under the judgment of Clementianus should be heard.

[4] [he is set before Clementianus,] At the same time charged Clementianus
in the temple of Tellus for himself a tribunal to be prepared, & bound
with chains B. Gordianus before him to be presented.
Whom Clementianus thus interrogates, saying: Gordianus,
so have you despised the precepts of the Prince our ever
Augustus, who you honored & with dignity adorned the office,
that also you with magic arts against the Republic
& the safety of the most unconquered Prince our the gods melted down
& hid? Answered B. Gordianus, & 
said to him: I rather for the safety of the Republic did this.
For if I had all idols by hand made, I would break
them & melt down. For whom do you say to be adored
rather, whether him who made, or him who is fashioned? I
indeed Him adore who made all things. Clementianus
the Vicar said: And who is it who made all things? B. Gordianus
said: Christ the son of God living. Clementianus
the Vicar said: If He made all things, why by
the prince of the republic Lord Julian ever Augustus
was He cast out? B. Gordianus said to him: Rather
Julian by God was cast out, who God did not fear,
but adores idols of demons, with whom about to perish
he is. Then Clementianus the Vicar said to Gordianus:
Sacrifice to the immortal gods: but if not, I will make
you with the head to be struck. B. Gordianus said: Never
to you well be it, [with leaden scourges he is beaten.] wretch, nor to your Prince Julian, who
in darkness is condemned. Then with anger moved Clementianus
ordered him with leaden scourges to be beaten, & when long
was beaten B. Gordianus, he cried out saying: Thanks
to thee I give, Lord God my Jesus Christ.

[5] These things hearing the impious Clementianus ordered him
with the head to be cut off there, before the temple in Tellus. [he is beheaded,] Whose
body he ordered again before the temple of Pallas to be cast,
in the place above said, that it not be buried for days
five, but to the dogs be left. But when there came
the dogs, [m] a barking & a howling they sent forth,
& did not dare to touch, but rather guarded
him. Then one of his household with other Christians
in the nocturnal silence came, & seized the venerable
body of the holy Martyr Gordianus: & coming
into the way, which the Latin is called, [he is buried with S. Epimachus] not far
from the city of Rome, but as a milestone more or less one,
there they laid him in a crypt, on the sixth of the Ides of May, where
already long before holy Epimachus they had buried. In
which also place the benefits of them & virtues flourish
even to the present day, to the praise & glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom is honor & glory,
together with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
unto the ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.









is from the Capene gate, from which not far S. Paul the Apostle with the head 
was struck, & in his honor a temple & monastery by posterity 
erected, which then SS. Vincent's & Anastasius's was called, as 
often has been said, & must be said at the Life of S. Paul.


APPENDIX
The church & cemetery of these Martyrs at Rome. The sacred pledges 
brought to the churches of Kempten, Weingarten, Prague & 
Prüm.

Gordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)

Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)

Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] [The cemetery of S. Gordianus] The Gordian cemetery outside the Latin gate
described Peter Manlius, in the Catalogue of cemeteries
of the City in Paul Aringhus, book 4 of Rome subterranean
chapter 3. A name to it from S. Gordianus the Martyr given
sufficiently openly intimate the ancient of the Hieronymian Martyrology
apographs, the Corbey, Lucca, & Blumian with these words:
At Rome the Latin way, in the cemetery of the same, the birthday
of Gordianus: & in the cemetery of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday
of S. Epimachus. But Ado thus joined: At Rome
the Latin way, in the cemetery of the same, the birthday of SS. Gordianus
& Epimachus. But when it is said in the cemetery
of the same, & not of the same ones, it is referred to S. Gordianus:
whom there, as the Acts have, after death they laid, where
already long before S. Epimachus they had buried. Notker thus
speaks: Gordianus's body they laid in a crypt in
the cemetery of Prætextatus, where already long before the body of the blessed
Martyr Epimachus had been buried. It seems therefore
the cemetery of Gordianus contiguous to have been to the cemetery
of Prætextatus, although that to the Latin way, this to the Appian is attributed:
which most excellently is confirmed on the XXV of August in the Acts of S. Nemesius
the Deacon, [& his church & Epimachus's,] whom with the head to be cut off they ordered between
the way Appian & Latin. There once a basilica of SS.
Gordianus & Epimachus constructed, by Adrian
the Pope first anew to have been renovated, writes Anastasius
the Librarian in his Life. The words below in the Acts of SS.
Quartus & Quintus we explain.

[2] But of that Pontiff in the third year, of Christ 774,
the bodies of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs from Rome
into Alamannia to have been brought writes in his Chronicle Hermann
the Lame. [the bodies in the year 774 brought to the Church of Kempten,] These the Life of B. Hildegard the Queen by
us on the XXX of April illustrated num. 2 more clearly explains
with these words: Among those monasteries, of which she that most blessed
foundress was, the Kempten house more especially
she loved, which both with riches she heaped & with honors exalted…
Whence also Andegarius, the first of the same
cenobium Elect… to Rome with herself she led, & … from
Pope Adrian to be consecrated obtained. Then with the precious
bodies of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus
endowed the Queen, with joyfulness returned & glory; the more
indeed glorious & joyful the more devoutly, because so
glorious she carried back a burden, & because by her prayers Pope
Adrian deigning to come to Kempten, newly by
him constructed dedicated the monastery, in honor
indeed of the holy Mother of God Mary, & of the holy
Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus, whose bodies
there even to the present day rest, & 
with divine offices are cultivated. These things more at length are read in the said
Life, which the Author from an old MS. renewed in the year 14
72. The Dedication of the Kempten church, by a Legate
Pontifical probably made, to the Pontiff himself against
the verisimilitude attributing, as there we noted. But about
the Relics Bucelinus in the Sacrarium Benedictine at this
X of May these things writes: Of these the sacred bodies are kept
in the cenobium of Kempten, [Some bones in the church of Weingarten,] & notable parts in
that of Weingarten. The same Bucelinus part 2 of Germany sacred,
recounting the Relics in the monastery of Weingarten kept,
asserts, to be notable portions of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus.
Charles IV the Emperor, [& in the Cathedral of Prague:] by an epistle to all of the kingdom
of Bohemia the estates in the year 1354 given & by Thomas John
Pessina in the Metropolitan of Prague published testifies page 434
himself in the monastery of Kempten to have obtained relics
of the bones of Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs. In the Diary
of the Relics of the Church of Prague are said to be fragments
four. In the MS. Martyrology of Prague the same are confirmed,
& the Ecclesiastical Office under the semidouble rite in
the whole diocese is recited.

[3] There is a certain MS. Chronicle of the monastery of Prüm in
the diocese of Treves, the author Servatius Ottlerus there a cenobite:
from which John Gamansius by himself described to us has transmitted
the following: The Abbot Gregory in peace buried, by lineage
& virtue illustrious & in religion notable Lord
Gerardus, of the most noble & most ancient stock of the Counts
of Vienne, the Prelacy & principate of the Church
of Prüm received in order the twenty-ninth. This man
frugal, with glory at once & advantage of the house of God is known
to have presided, of piety a cultivator & propagator chief.
And among the rest of his strenuousness's works this surely
greatest ought to be esteemed, that with a new foundation of the lower
Prüm a church of God & of Christ's handmaids
a cenobium he constructed: [& in the lower Prüm] which certainly by day & night
of religious women the Lord praising
a dwelling providently with earthly possessions,
for the supplement of corporeal necessity, from the substance
& heritage of the holy Savior, he augmented: & that very
sacred church of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & 
Epimachus with sacred bodies he honored, exalted,
sanctified. Over which sacred & new of Christ family
he set first his kinswoman, Sophia by name:
who to God consecrated a Virgin the office enjoined on her of a most devout
Mother well fulfilling, of virtue & sanctity
to posterity left most illustrious vestiges. Of this therefore foundation
the reason that more certainly may be expressed & more truly believed
in its tenor the testament of her it pleases here to append.

[4] In the name of the holy & undivided Trinity. I
Gerardus, by Divine favoring mercy, of the holy Prüm
Church the humble minister, to all of Christ
the faithful, as future as present, greeting which
is in Christ Jesus. [by Gerardus the Abbot of Prüm founded] What to the honor of God & the usefulness
of those serving God piously by us & rationally
has been done, to the memory of letters to commend worthy
we have judged; in so far as through this both the deed done its necessary
to itself of firmness strength in the present may obtain, & 
all of calumniating occasion in the future may rest.

For since certain it is, brief to be & momentary
of the present life the state, since here we have not
an abiding city; it befits us with works
good vigilantly to toil, that to the heavenly fatherland & 
city eternally abiding to come we may be able.
It pleased therefore our discretion, those serving God,
of whatever they be of order, with charity not feigned to love,
& with the necessity of temporal things, in as much as
we can, God helping to sustain. Hence it is that
a certain noble woman, by the line of consanguinity
to us nearest, in habit, vow & conversation honest
a nun, Sophia by name, an Abbess
called & consecrated, into our parts with few
Sisters to her subject coming, kindly we received.
Who having left her kinsmen & the land of her nation,
into a land to her & to her own somewhat alien, in peace & 
quiet all the days of her life God to serve most devoutly
desiring, to our & our friends'
providence, protection, counsel, & help humbly
herself submitted. We indeed so devout of mind
her considering the desire, & immutable in the sex
frail purpose admiring; a situation to her will
sufficiently congruous, near a chapel of a certain court, which
the lower Prüm is called, & that very chapel ours
with its appendages entirely, & the benefice &
allod of a certain man ours, by heirs
legitimate into our hands voluntarily designated,
by the counsel of our faithful to her perpetually we gave.
She indeed three Virgins very small, of the already said
benefice & allod heirs, with her wonted piety to herself joined:
whom with a maternal of love affection, under regular
discipline of her order, to serve God to instruct
zealously she took care. We therefore of the same handmaid
of Christ at the good beginnings rejoicing together, with the aforesaid place
two Mother Churches, namely Merinche & Romeschem
with their daughters, to the aforesaid Abbess & 
to those who after her are to be, by perpetual right to be possessed
we delivered; saved through all things & untouched the right,
which to the Prebend of the Prüm monks from
the ancient constitution to pertain is known, & of any
service, which to the Abbot of either church is owed.
Of the rest whatever the Abbess for her advantage
thence shall be able to ordain, [his sister Adelheid helping.] to her & to her cenobium's
uses shall accrue: nonetheless also the shrubs, which are
in the hill, which is called Comerworst, to her we have granted, so
that six denarii yearly thence she pay. A place also
for a mill to be constructed suitable to her we have granted:
which when it shall have been built, five maldra
of rye thence through the several years to the Abbot she shall render.
Of the rest my sister Adelheid, Countess of
Molbach, a venerable widow, of the allod which from
her great-grandfather, grandfather & father legitimately she had possessed, our part,
namely the little villa which Noverode is called,
with all its appendages, bondmen, fields, meadows & 
woods (except the enfeoffed) for the safety of her soul,
& of her husband & children & of all her successors, [to the honor of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus,]
to serve God & the glorious Virgin Mary 
& the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus, in perpetuity
most devoutly to the same place gave: & me
& my successors of the holy Prüm Church Abbots,
Advocates & Defenders by the authority & grace
of almighty God solemnly instituted. Moreover of
the tithes in Neukirchen four modii of wheat, six
modii of rye, twenty modii of oats to the nuns in
that same chapel the Lord serving, on the several years
before the Natal day of our Lord Jesus Christ, without
all impediment to be paid firmly & very devoutly
she instituted. [a confirmation before their altar made,] We therefore, with the aforesaid Countess
& several honest men, before the altar of the aforesaid
Martyrs coming under the stole, with the bond of anathema
we confirmed, that to no ever of men
these things to change or to infringe be lawful, but ratified & unshaken
in perpetuity may remain. But if anyone this
our of the institution confirmation to violate, to change
or to infringe presume or attempt,
perpetually anathema be he, & the anger & indignation
of the most blessed Virgin Mary may he incur, & the inevitable
of her son our Lord Jesus Christ vengeance eternally
may he feel, unless humbly & timely he repent.
Of the many assisting of certain ones the names in testimony
to be written we caused. Gerardus of the Church of holy
Salvator Dean, Bertramus Custodian, Cuno
Cantor, Bertholdus Provost of the church of S. Mary,
Hermann Dean, Theodoricus Scholastic,
Bertramus Custodian, & several of the Church ministerials.
These things were done & with the seal of holy Salvator, ours also
& of the Countess marked, [in the year 1190.] in the year of the Lord's Incarnation
1190 Indiction VII, Epact XII, reigning
Lord Henry the glorious Emperor Frederick's son
happily. Upon the articles also of the same foundation
other of consent & confirmation copies
are had, namely of John the Archbishop of Treves,
the Archdeacon, & of the whole Chapter of the same
Church; & likewise of the Supreme Pontiffs Celestine
& Honorius: which for prolixity's avoiding sake
here to be omitted we judged. Hitherto Olerus. Mentions
this Parthenon at the said year 1190 Christopher
Browerus book 15 of the Annals of Treves, & asserts
the pledges of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs
from the basilica of Salvator to the new Virgins' temple to be brought
were: & them to this brought writes Bucelinus in
Gerardus the XXIX Abbot of Prüm's elogium. But we judge
them by the Kempten ones received, & to have been some of these
Martyrs' more notable bones, & so to be said the bodies of them at Prüm to be.
