Mark and Marcellian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Another Marcellian was part of the group of martyrs, Secundian, Marcellian and Verian.
| Saint Mark and Marcellian | |
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| Died | ~286 AD, Rome |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Santi Cosma e Damiano |
| Feast | 18 June |
 Saints Portal |
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Saints Mark and Marcellian (Marcus and Marcellianus) are venerated as saints. Their cult is sometimes associated with that of Saints Tranquillinus, Martia, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castulus, and Tiburtius, but not in the official liturgical books of the Roman Catholic Church, which mentions only Mark and Marcellian (in first place) among the saints for 18 June.[1] Though they are thus presented for veneration, they are no longer mentioned in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, because, apart from their names, nothing is really known about these martyrs except that they were buried in the cemetery of Balbina on the Via Ardeatina on an 18 June.[2]
Their legend states that they were martyred at Rome under Diocletian towards the end of the third century, most likely in 286. They are mentioned in most of the ancient martyrologies on 18 June (their feast day), and their martyrdom is described in the Acts of St. Sebastian, which are largely legendary, though ancient.
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[edit] Legend
According to tradition, Mark and Marcellian were twin brothers and deacons. They were both married, and from a distinguished family. They both lived in Rome with their wives and children. The brothers refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were arrested. They were visited by their father and mother, Tranquillinus and Martia, in prison, who attempted to persuade them to renounce Christianity.
However, Saint Sebastian, who also visited them, managed to convince them not to abandon Christianity. Sebastian ended up converting Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as Saint Tiburtius, the son of Chromatius, the local prefect. Nicostratus, another official, and his wife Zoe were also converted. According to the legend, Zoe, the wife of Nicostratus, had been been a mute for 6 years. However, she made known to Sebastian her desire to be converted to Christianity. As soon as she had, her speech returned to her. Nicostratus then brought the rest of the prisoners; these were 16 people who were also converted by Sebastian.[3]
Chromatius and Tiburtius became converts, and Chromatius set all of his prisoners free, resigned his position, and retired to the country in Campania.
Mark and Marcellian were concealed by Castulus, a Christian officer, but they were betrayed by an apostate, Torquatus. The twins were again taken into custody. Chromatius's successor, Fabian, condemned them to be bound head downhards to two pillars with their feet nailed to them. Mark and Marcellian hanged there for a full day until they were pierced with lances. The twins were buried in the Via Ardeatina, near the cemetery of Domitilla.
Meanwhile, Zoe was hung to the branch of a tree and a fire was kindled underneath her feet, and she was killed. Nicostratus and five others were drowned in the Tiber. Tiburtius was thrown into a ditch and buried alive.[4]
[edit] Veneration
The bodies of Mark and Marcellian were moved, probably during the ninth century, to the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano. They were discovered there in 1583 during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII.
The bodies remain there in a tomb, near an ancient painting of the two martyrs with a third person, who appears to be the Virgin Mary. In 1902, their basilica in the catacombs of Saint Balbina was rediscovered.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
- ^ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 127
- ^ Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic (Chatto and Windus, 1901), 11.
- ^ Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic (Chatto and Windus, 1901), 11.
