Marcellus

Holy Hieromartyr Marcellus was bishop of Apamea in Syria towards the end of the fourth century. He came from Cyprus, of distinguished parents, was well educated and held a high civil office, praised for his purity, gentleness and kindness. He had married and had some children. In 375 he left them to devote himself to monastic life in Syria. Arriving at Apamea, he was acclaimed bishop by the Apameans.

When the emperor Theodosius (379-395) issued the decree ordering the destruction of all pagan temples, Marcellus carried out the order both at Apamea and in the surrounding villages, as Theodoret of Cyrrhus and Sozomen tell. In one of the villages, while the temple of Jupiter was being demolished, he was recognized by a group of pagans who, seeing him alone and aside, threw themselves on him and burned him alive. An inscription discovered at Khirbet Mouqa, dated 394-395, names Bishop Marcellus, who had completed the restoration of a church begun by his predecessor John; it is the only document that allows his episcopate to be dated. He is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox and the Catholic Church, on 14 August (new style).