Marcellus (3)
Marcellus
ST. (martyr). Aside from Marcellus I, pope of Rome (q.v.), and Marcellus of Apamea (q.v.), the martyrologues mention a number of other martyrs of that name, the more important of which are:
I. MARCELLUS who perished during the persecution of Antoninus Philosophus. Having refused to participate in a repast with the prefect Priscus, and remonstrated with the latter and his guests on account of their idolatry, he was half buried in the ground, in the open air, and died thus after three days. The year 140 is given as the date of his death; he is commemorated on September 4. See Surius, T.V. Gregorii Turon. Lib. de gloriamart. c. 53; Ruinart, Acta primorum martyrum, p. 73.
II. MARCELLUS, the chief of the Trajan Legion, who, for refusing to participate in heathen sacrifices at Tingis, in Mauritania, was beheaded by order of the governor, Aurelianus Agricola, in 270. See Surius, vol. 5; Ruinart, p. 302 sq. He is commemorated on Oct. 20.
III. MARCELLUS who suffered at Argenton, in France, under Aurelian. He was a native of Rome, son of a heathen father and a Christian mother, who brought him up a Christian. When of age, he fled to Argenton on account of the persecution of Aurelian. Here he wrought some wonderful cures, which attracted the attention of the prefect Heraclius. Arrested, he fearlessly confessed his faith, and, after scourging, was roasted on a spit; but as this neither converted nor killed him, he was beheaded. He is commemorated on June 29. See Gregorii Turon. Lib. de gloria mart. c. 52.
IV. MARCELLUS, bishop of Die, in France, was born at Avignon of Christian parents, and religiously brought up. He was ordained by his brother, who was bishop of Die before him. At the time of his election another was also appointed, but he was taken to the church by his adherents and there reconciled with his adversaries. On this occasion. it is said, a dove was seen to descend upon his head. He was thrown into prison by the Arians for opposing their views, and died there in the beginning of the 6th century. He is commemorated on April 9. See Gregorii Turon. Lib. de gloria confess. c. 7. Herzog, Real-Encyklopdie, 9:22; Pierer, Univ. Lexikcon, 10:855. (J. N. P.)
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Marcellus (2)
bishop OF ANCYRA, in Galatia, noted for the part he took in the Synod of Ancyra (314 or 315), held at the end of the persecution of Maximin, SEE ANCYRA, made himself conspicuous at the Council of Nicaea (325) by his homoousian views, and was upheld by Athanasius and the whole Western Church. We next find him at the Council of Tyre (335), where he opposed the condemnation of Athanasius, and of Maximus III, patriarch of Jerusalem. In the Council of Jerusalem, of the same year, he declared against the admission of Arius to communion. At the Council of Constantinople, in 336, the Arians having the majority, Marcellus was deposed with the assent of the emperor. who had been prejudiced against him. After the death of Constantine, May 22, 337, he was restored to his bishopric; but once more expelled, he sought refuge in the West, where he was absolved by the councils of Rome and of Sardica (347). He returned to Ancyra, but Basil, who had been appointed bishop in his place, refused to surrender his seat. Marcellus, who was already well advanced in years, retired to a monastery, where he subsequently died. St. Jerome states that he wrote several works, principally against the Arians; but we now possess under his name only a letter addressed to Julius I, containing an exposition of his doctrine, given by St. Epiphanius; two confessions of faith, given by his disciples; and some passages, quoted by Eusebius. of his work against Asterius. There has been great diversity of opinion concerning his orthodoxy. His confessions are perfectly correct; but in the passages of the work against Asterius, his doctrine, otherwise very difficult to make out, seems to border on Sabellianism. Photinus of Sirmium, who was condemned as a heretic, was his disciple, and had been his deacon, and a sect who refused to admit the three hypostases took the name of Marcellians (q.v.). Yet all ecclesiastical writers agree in calling him a saint; and it is possible that his enemies, the Arians and others, unjustly made Marcellus the father of’heretic views. See Athanasius, Apoll. 2; Basilins, Epist. 52; Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. vol. 2; Socrates, Hist. Eccles. vol. 1; Sozomen, Hist. Eccl. vol. 2 and 3; Hermani, Vie de Si. Athanase; Du Pin, Bibl. Ecclesiastique, 2:79; Rettberg, Marcelliana (Gotting. 1794); Klose, Gesch. u. Lehre des Marcellus und Photin (Iamb. 1837); Zahn, Marcellus von Ancyra (Gotha, 1867, 8vo); Willenborg, Ueber die Orthodoxie des Mearcellus (Aullnich, 1859); Schaff, Ch. Hist. 3:651 sq.; Hagenbach, History of Doctrines, 1:255, 263, 368; Lardner, Works (see Index); Herzog, Real-Encyklopdie, 9:22 sq.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Marcellus (3)
bishop OF APAMEA (1), in Syria, near the close of the 4th century, distinguished himself particularly by his zeal for the destruction of the heathen temples. He considered them as maintaining heathen tenenncies among the people. Having attempted to destroy the main temple of the city with the help of soldiers and gladiators, he was taken by the people and put. to death. His sons sought to avenge his death, but were restrained by the provincial synod, held in 391.
(2.) Another Marcellus of Apamea is mentioned, who is said to have lived in the 5th century. He was a native of Syria, of a wealthy family, and after the death of his parents went to Antioch, where he devoted himself to study. Dividing his fortune among the poor, he went to Ephesus, and there attempted to support himself by copying books. He subsequently joined abbot Alexander at Constantinople, and was afterwards chosen as his successor. To avoid this honor, Marcellus fled to a neighboring convent until another abbot had been selected, and then returned and was made deacon. The new abbot, named John, however, became jealous of his deacon, and obliged him to perform menial service. Marcellus cheerfully submitted; but after the death of John he was again appointed abbot. Under his direction the convent acquired such reputation that it had to be greatly enlarged, and other convents applied to be governed by pupils of Marcellus. He died in 485. See Fleury, Hist. ad a. 448; Herzog, Real- Encyklopdie, 9:25; Lardner, Works (see Index).