View source for Mark and Marcellian

{{Short description|Roman martyrs venerated as saints}}
{{Infobox saint
|name=Saints Mark and Marcellian
|birth_date=
|death_date= c. 286 
|feast_day=18 June (Roman Catholic Church),<br> 18 December (Eastern Orthodox Church)
|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]],<br> [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
|image=Mark and Marcellian.JPG
|imagesize=310px
|caption=''Sts Marcus and Marcellianus (to the right) with [[Saint Sebastian]].'' From a medieval French manuscript.
|birth_place=Rome, Italy
|death_place=Rome, Italy
|titles=Martyrs 
|beatified_date= 
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=
|patronage=
|major_shrine=Church of [[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome]]
|suppressed_date=
|issues= 
}}
{{commons category|Saints Mark and Marcellian}}
'''Mark and Marcellian''' ([[Latin]]: ''Marcus et Marcellianus'') are [[martyr]]s venerated as [[saints]] by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].<ref>[http://www.svetosavlje.org/biblioteka/AvaJustin/ZitijaSvetih/ZitijaSvetih1218.htm Saints, December 18, Justin Popović] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128011359/http://www.svetosavlje.org/biblioteka/AvaJustin/ZitijaSvetih/ZitijaSvetih1218.htm |date=2011-11-28 }} {{in lang|sr}}</ref> Their cult is sometimes associated with that of Saints Tranquillinus, Martia, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castulus, and [[Saint Tiburtius|Tiburtius]], though not in the official [[liturgical book]]s of the Church, which mention only Mark and Marcellianus (in first place) among the saints for 18 June.<ref>''Martyrologium Romanum''  Libreria Editrice Vaticana (2001) {{ISBN|88-209-7210-7}}</ref> Their mention in the [[General Roman Calendar]] on that date from before the time of the [[Tridentine calendar]] was removed in the [[Mysterii Paschalis|1969 revision]], because nothing is known about them except their names, the fact of their martyrdom, and that they were buried on 18 June in the cemetery of [[Santa Balbina]] on the [[Via Ardeatina]].<ref>''Calendarium Romanum''  Libreria Editrice Vaticana (1969), p. 127.</ref>

Their legend states that they were martyred at Rome under the Emperor [[Diocletian]] towards the end of the third century, most likely in the year 286. They are mentioned in most of the ancient [[martyrologies]], including the [[Roman Martyrology]], and their martyrdom is described in the ''Acts of St Sebastian'', which, though ancient, is largely legendary.

==Legend==
According to tradition, Mark and Marcellian were twin brothers from a distinguished family. They lived in Rome and became [[deacon]]s in the early Church. When they refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, they were arrested. Their parents, Tranquillinus and Martia, visited them in prison, urging them to renounce their being Christians.<ref name=Clugnet>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09682a.htm Clugnet, Léon. "Sts. Mark and Marcellian." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 30 Dec. 2014]</ref>

However, [[Saint Sebastian|Sebastian]] convinced them not to abandon their faith. Sebastian converted Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as [[Saint Tiburtius|Tiburtius]], the son of [[Chromatius of Rome|Agrestius Chromatius]], allegedly [[praefectus urbis|prefect of Rome]].<ref name="allegedly">Both Chromatius and Fabianus are not inserted in the [[List of urban prefects of Rome|historical list of prefects of Rome]].</ref> Nicostratus, another official, and his wife Zoe, were also converted. According to the legend, Zoe had been a mute for six years. However, she made known to Sebastian her desire to convert to the Church. As soon as she had, her speech returned to her. Nicostratus then brought the rest of the prisoners; these were sixteen people who were also converted by Sebastian.<ref name="Ebenezer Cobham Brewer 1901">Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, ''A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic'' Chatto and Windus (1901), 11.</ref>

Chromatius and Tiburtius became converts, and Chromatius set free all his prisoners, resigned his position, and retired to [[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 alleged successor Fabianus<ref name="allegedly" /> condemned them to be bound head downwards to two pillars with their feet nailed to them. Mark and Marcellian hung there for a full day until they were pierced with [[lance]]s. The twins were buried in the [[Via Ardeatina]],<ref name=Clugnet/> near the [[cemetery]] of [[Flavia Domitilla (saint)|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.<ref name="Ebenezer Cobham Brewer 1901"/>

==Veneration==
The bodies of Marcus and Marcellianus were [[translation (relics)|moved]], probably during the ninth century, to the Church of [[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome|Santi Cosma e Damiano]]. They were discovered there in 1583 during the reign of [[Pope Gregory XIII]].<ref name=Clugnet/>

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.

==Notes==
<references/>
{{catholic|wstitle=Sts. Mark and Marcellian}}

==External links==
*[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4704 St. Mark & Marcellian]
*[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0618.shtml#mark Saint of the Day, June 18] at ''SaintPatrickDC.org''

[[Category:Italian twins]]
[[Category:286 deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century Christian martyrs]]
[[Category:Italian saints]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Saints duos]]
[[Category:Christians martyred during the reign of Diocletian]]
[[Category:Groups of Christian martyrs of the Roman era]]