Saints Mark and Marcellian
Martyred at Rome under Diocletian towards the end of the third century, most
likely in 286. These martyrs were brothers and their martyrdom is known to
us from the
Acts of St. Sebastian, which, though in great part legendary, are nevertheless
very ancient. Cast into prison for being Christians, they were visited by their
father and mother, Tranquillinus and Martia, who, being still idolaters,
implored them to return to the worship of the false gods to save their lives.
But
Sebastian, whose approaching martyrdom was to render him illustrious, having
penetrated into their prison at the same time, exhorted them so earnestly not to
abandon the Christian Faith, that he not only rendered their fidelity immovable,
but also converted their parents and several of their friends who were present.
The judge, before whom they were at length brought, not being able to induce
them to apostatize, condemned them to death. They were buried in the Via
Ardeatina, near the cemetery of Domitilla. Their bodies were translated at a
later date (which is not quite certain, but probably in the ninth century) to the
church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, where they were rediscovered in 1583 in
the reign of Gregory XIII. They still rest there in a tomb, near which may be
seen an ancient painting wherein the two martyrs are represented with a third
person who seems be the Blessed Virgin.
Their Feast Day is on June 18.
Page last modified December, 1996.