The Latin Martyrdom of *Marcellus (soldier and martyr of Tingis, S02897) recounts how in 298 the centurion Marcellus declared that, as a Christian, he could no longer serve in the army, and was martyred in in Tingis, modern Tangier (Mauretania Tingitana, western North Africa). Written possibly in the early 4th c.
E08138
Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdom
Martyrdom of Marcellus
1. When Faustus and Gallus were consuls [AD 298], the centurion Marcellus declared publicly that he was a Christian and that he could not serve any more in the military (sacramento huic militare non posse). The governor (praeses) Fortunatus sent him to the deputy praetorian prefect (agentem vicem praefectorum praetorio), Aurelius Agricolanus.
2. On the third days before the kalends of November [30 October], Marcellus was interrogated by Agricolanus at Tingis [Tangier]. Marcellus confirmed that he was not willing to serve in the military any longer. He was sentenced to death and decapitated.
Recension M:
Sic decebat Marcellum martyrem gloriosum de hoc recedere saeculo.
‘In this way the glorious martyr Marcellus left this world.’
Recension N:
Dominus autem martyrum suum suscepit in pace, regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo qui uiuit et regnat cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto in saecula saeculorum.
‘The Lord accepted his martyr in peace, under the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.’
Text: Leoni 2020.
Summary and translation: Stanisław Adamiak.
Saint’s feast
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesSoldiers
Source
The text is preserved in numerous manuscripts, and the tradition of its transmission is very complex. Two principal families of manuscripts can be identified, respectively from the French (M) and Spanish (N) areas.Leoni thinks that the original text was written not long after the events described in it, and its brevity, lack of miracles, and its correct use of official titles lends support to this dating.
The Martyrdom of Cassianus (E08055) is dependent on our text.
Bibliography
Editions and translations:Delehaye, H., “Les actes de S. Marcel le centurion,” Analecta Bollandiana 42 (1923), 257-258.
Leoni, J. (ed.), Mattei, P. (trans.), Actes et passions des martyrs militaires africains (Sources Chrétiennes 609; Paris: Cerf 2020).
Further reading:
De Gaiffer, B., “S. Marcel de Tanger ou de Léon? Évolution d’une légende,” Analecta Bollandiana 61 (1943).
Fialon, S., Mens immobilis. Recherches sur le corpus latin des actes et des passions d'Afrique romaine (IIe-VIe siècles) (Collection des Études Augustiniennes. Série Antiquité 203; Paris: Institut d'Études Augustiniennes, 2018), 94-98.
Lanata, F., “Gli Atti del processo contro il centurione Marcello,” Byzantion 42 (1972), 509-522.
Leoni, J., “Gli Acta sancti Marcelli centurionis (BHL 5253-5255a). Studio della tradizione ed edizione critica,” Wiener Studien 130 (2017), 291-359.
Stanisław Adamiak
31/03/2021
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S02897 | Marcellus, martyr of Tingis/Tangier | Marcellus | Certain |
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Stanisław Adamiak, Cult of Saints, E08138 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E08138