Po'ntius
a deacon of the African Church, the tried friend and constant companion of Cyprian.
Works
He drew up a narrative of the life and sufferings of the martyred bishop, which is styled an excellent production (
egregium volume) by Jerome. If the piece extant under the name of Pontius, entitled
De Vita et Passione S. Cypriani, be genuine, it certainly does not merit such high commendation, since it is composed in an ambitious declamatory style, full of affectation and rhetorical ornaments. Perhaps the original work may have formed the basis of what we now possess, which has probably been built up into its present form by the labour of various hands.
Editions
It will be found attached to all the most important editions of Cyprian, and is contained also in the Acta Primorum Martyrum of Ruinart, 4to. Paris, 1690, and
fol. Amst. 1713. The Acta Pontii are preserved in the Miscellanea of Baluze, 8vo. Par. 1678, vol. ii. p. 124, and
in the Acta Sanctorum under 8th March, the day marked as his festival in the Roman Martyrologies.
Further Information
Hieron.
de Viris Ill. 68; Schönemann,
Bibl. Patrum Lat. vol. i. c. 3.6.
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W.R]
