CRISPINUS and CRISPINIANUS, saints, martyrs. — The information concerning them is uncertain and obscure. In the Auxerre recension of the *Martyrologium Hieronymianum* they are commemorated on 25 October as martyrs of Soissons, and Gregory of Tours refers, on several occasions, to their basilica in the same city (*Historia Francorum*, V, 34; IX, 9).
In the Roman tradition, however, there is a reference to them in the *Passio* of SS. John and Paul, in whose basilica on the Caelian they are said to have been buried not far from them; but the episode concerning C. and C. is commonly held to be legendary. They are also mentioned in the *Notitia* inscribed in the *Gesta regum Anglorum* of William of Malmesbury. The *Passio* of C. and C., written toward the end of the 8th century, is too fabulous to command credence. With probability it may be held that C. and C., despite the scarcity and contradiction of the notices, were authentic Roman martyrs of the late 3rd century, who suffered death during the military persecution of Diocletian at Soissons, where they were subsequently venerated as local martyrs.
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