Argeus, Narcissus and Marcellinus

Holy Martyrs Argeus, Narcissus and Marcellinus were martyrs of the persecution of Diocletian, at the beginning of the fourth century.

According to the medieval martyrologies of Florus and Ado, they were three brothers and suffered at Tomis in Scythia Minor. The young Marcellinus refused military service, was imprisoned and then drowned in the sea. The brothers Argeus and Narcissus, after visiting him in prison, were arrested too and beheaded. This would have happened in the time of the emperor Licinius (308 to 324). According to modern hagiographical criticism these indications of Florus and Ado, taken from the old Hieronymian Martyrology, are mistaken, because they refer to other martyrs; in the corrected edition of the Hieronymian Martyrology the place of their death is identified as Cori, today in the province of Latina, and according to the passion of the priest Marcian they were beheaded.

In the time of Pope Leo IV (847 to 855) their relics were moved to the basilica of the Four Crowned Saints in Rome, as a plaque inside the church recalls. Caesar Baronius entered their commemoration in the Roman Martyrology on 2 January. They are saints of the undivided Church, honoured in the Catholic Church.