Marcellinus of Rome

Holy Hieromartyr Marcellinus of Rome was a deacon and suffered in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305), together with his brother Mark. They are commemorated together with the Holy Martyr Sebastian of Milan and with Nicostratus, Zoe, Castorius, the presbyter Tranquillinus, Claudius, Symphorian, Victorinus, Tiburtius and Castulus.

Marcellinus and Mark, Christian brothers, had been thrown into prison. At first they confessed the faith loudly, but wavered under the tearful pleas of their pagan parents, Tranquillinus and Marcia, of their wives and children. Then Sebastian, the commander of the palace guard, a Christian in secret, born at Narbonne in Gaul and educated at Milan, urged them in a fervent sermon not to drop the standard of victory for the sake of tears. His word persuaded them to accept martyrdom and filled all present with amazement: his face shone like an angel's, and Zoe, the wife of the official Nicostratus, who had lost her voice six years before, spoke at once after the saint signed her with the sign of the cross. Those present believed in the Saviour, and Nicostratus took off the chains of Marcellinus and Mark, but the brothers refused to flee. The presbyter Polycarp baptized 64 people, then the official Chromatius with his son and all his household, and the number of the enlightened rose to one thousand four hundred. Marcellinus and Mark stayed in Rome as deacons consecrated by Bishop Gaius.

The first seized were Zoe and the presbyter Tranquillinus. Nicostratus, Castorius, Claudius, Victorinus and Symphorian were drowned in the sea, Tiburtius was beheaded, and Castulus buried alive. Marcellinus and Mark were betrayed by a false Christian, Torquatus. Their feet were nailed to a stump, they stood all night in prayer, and in the morning were pierced with spears. Sebastian, the last, was shot with arrows and then killed at the hippodrome by the order of Diocletian, and his body was thrown into a refuse ditch; he appeared in a dream to Lucina and told her to bury him in the catacombs.

They are commemorated on 31 December, in the new style.