E02501: The Martyrdom of *Marcellus (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00529) and Companions is written in Latin, presumably in Rome during Late Antiquity. Loosely arranged around the story of Marcellus, it narrates the martyrdoms and burials of Roman of martyrs, Apronianus, Sisinnius and *Saturninus (S00422) on the via Salaria, and the soldiers Papias and Maurus on the via Nomentana (S02057); Cyriacus’ exorcism of Diocletian’s daughter Artemia and her baptism; Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largus’ travels to Persia to exorcise king Shapur’s daughter Ioba; persecution under Maximian with the martyrdom and burial of Crescentianus on the via Salaria, and of his companions *Cyriacus, Largus, Smaragdus and others (martyrs of Rome, S00678), also on the via Salaria; the translation of their bodies to the via Ostiensis; Marcellus’ forced labour in stables; his death and his burial on the via Salaria.

Martyrdom of Marcellus and Companions (BHL 5235/2056)

Summary:

§ 1: When the emperor Maximian returns to Rome from Africa, he wishes to show his devotion to Diocletian by building baths in his honour. He proceeds with this work using the forced labour of Christians drawn from the Roman army.

§ 2: Hearing about this, the bishop of the city Marcellus is full of joy for the alms distributed by Thrason to the saints. He asks the holy Christians Cyriacus, Sisinnius, Smaragdus and Largus to come to him, who tell him how Thrason provides sustenance to the saints of God. Delighted, he ordains Sisinnius and Cyriacus as deacons of the Roman church.

§ 3: However Sisinnius and Cyriacus, while carrying provisions supplied by Thrason, are arrested by pagan soldiers
and brought before the tribune Expurius, who incarcerates them. After the third day, Maximian is told of this and demands that they dig sand and carry it on their shoulders to where the baths are being built. During their task, with the help of Christ, they not only carry their own load but also help an old man called Saturninus to carry his burden. The guards are astonished and report this to Expurius, who in turn tells Maximian that these men are carrying out such deeds while singing the praises of God and Christ.

§ 4: Maximian orders Sisinnius to be brought before him, and asks him what all this singing is about. Sisinnius replies that if Maximian knew that, then he would also know his Creator. Maximian presses further, noting that the Creator can only be Hercules. Sisinnius replies rejecting Hercules, and Maximian threatens him that he must sacrifice to Hercules or be burnt. Sisinnius is ready to receive the crown of martyrdom, and Maximian hands him over to the prefect Laodicius, who in turn incarcerates him in the Mamertine prison (custodia Mamertini) for 17 days.

§ 5: After this, Laodicius orders Sisinnius to be brought before him. As he is presented by the commentariensis Apronianus, suddenly a light shines from heaven, and from the light comes a voice calling the Christians to come to heaven and obtain the eternal kingdom. Apronianus is filled with fear and falls before Sisinnius, imploring him to baptise him, and bring him to share the crown of martyrdom. Water is brought, Sisinnius initiates (catechizare) him, blesses the font and places him naked in a basin (pelvis). He asks him to state his belief in God the Father Almighty, his only son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Sisinnius replies ‘I believe’, and is baptised. Then Sisinnius brings him to the bishop Marcellus who anoints him with the chrism, and celebrates the Eucharist for all.

§ 6: The same day in the afternoon, Laodicius demands that Sisinnius be brought before him. Apronianus comes along too, reacting against the bad handling of the Christians. Laodicius realises that Apronianus has become a Christian, Apronianus responds regretting his wasted days. Laodicius replies that now he will waste his remaining days and orders him to be executed to avoid others following his example. He is executed on the via Salaria, at the second milestone, on the 4th day before the Nones of February [= 2 February].

§ 7: Laodicius orders that the old man Saturninus and the deacon Sisinnius should be returned to prison, threatening them with death by many punishments if they refuse to sacrifice to the gods. While Saturninus and Sisinnius are in prison, many pagans come to them and are baptised. Hearing this, Laodicius orders that a tribunal be prepared in Tellude. After 42 days, Saturninus and Sisinnius are dragged there barefoot and in chains. They are asked if they have abandoned superstitions (superstitiones) and will worship the gods adored by the emperors. Sisinnius replies saying that they adore the Lord Jesus Christ, son of God and will not bow before demons and stones. Laodicius orders a tripod to be brought before them so that they might sacrifice, but following Saturninus’ command, the hard metal dissolves as if it were clay. Seeing this, two soldiers called Papias and Maurus exclaim that Jesus Christ must be the true God.

§ 8: Angered by this, Laodicius orders Saturninus and Sisinnius to be tortured on a rack. They are beaten with cords, cudgels and scorpions (scorpiones), but glorify Jesus Christ. Papias and Maurus complain about the tortures and Laodicius orders them to be stoned and thrown in prison, and Saturninus and Sisinnius’ sides to be burnt. However they rejoice on the rack. Then they are brought to the via Nomentana at the second mile and beheaded. Their bodies are collected by Thrason and the priest Iohannes, and buried on his estate (praedium) on the via Salaria on the 4th day before the Calends of December [= 28 November].

§ 9: Twelve days later, Laodicius orders that Papias and Maurus, who have by now been baptised by bishop Marcellus, be brought before him in the Circus Flaminius. He orders that they worship the gods, but they refuse and are beaten with cudgels. As they are being beaten, they only ask Christ to help them. Then he orders them to be beaten with lead-weighted scourges (plumbatae), and they give up their spirits. Their bodies are collected by night by the priest Iohannes, who buries them on the via Nomentana, ad Nymphas beati Petri, where he baptised, on the 4th day before the Calends of February [= 29 January].

§ 10: After a few days, Laodicius tells Diocletian and Maximian what has happened and how the Christians were killed, and they rejoice. A few days later it is announced to Diocletian that his daughter Artemia is possessed by a demon. Diocletian is greatly saddened and refuses to take any food. Cyriacus, who has long been incarcerated and forgotten, is visited by many Christians, and gives sight to the blind and cures many of their illnesses. Imprisoned with Largus and Smaragdus, he is summoned to assist Diocletian, because the demon, speaking through Artemia’s mouth, says that only he can perform a successful exorcism. So Cyriacus is brought before Diocletian’s daughter.

§ 11: On entering Artemia’s chamber, he calls upon the demon to give up its possession, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The demon asks, however, for a receptacle (vas) into which it can go. Cyriacus offers his own body up for possession; but the demon says that it cannot enter his body because it is closed and sealed (signatum). Cyriacus commands the demon to vacate Artemia’s body, so that it may receive the Holy Spirit; and then he asks Artemia to believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ. The demon says that if it is expelled, it will bring Cyriacus to Persia. Cyriacus commands it to leave in the name of Jesus Christ, and it does.

§ 12: Artemia cries out, begging for baptism because she sees the Lord. Largus and Smaragdus, take her hands and raise her. The next day, Cyriacus initiates her (catechizare) according to custom and water is brought and blessed. She is baptised in the presence of her mother Serena, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From that day, Serena exhorts her daughter to love the Christian religion (religio Christiana). Two years and ten months later, when the building of the baths has been joyously completed, Diocletian, at the intercession of Serena, gives Cyriacus a house and orders that he be left to live in peace in the city of Rome.

§ 13: Soon afterwards, there arrives a Persian royal embassy to Diocletian, asking for the deacon Cyriacus to be sent to Persia because the Persian king’s daughter is possessed by a demon. Seeing the earnestness of King Shapur’s (Sapor) entreaty, Diocletian asks his wife Serena to get Cyriacus to come before her. She tells Cyriacus about the embassy and he agrees to go. Serena provides him with every means to get to Persia, and he goes there with Largus and Smaragdus, while soldiers travel on light horses (veredi). Thus Cyriacus, with his stick (baculus), arrives first in front of the king Shapur.

§ 14: Shapur demands to know which one is called Cyriacus, then ushers him into his daughter Iobia’s chamber. The demon immediately recognises Cyriacus, who tells it to leave the body in the name of Jesus Christ. The demon remarks that it has brought Cyriacus where it intended to. Seeing that the girl is getting tired, Cyriacus throws himself on the ground, weeps and prays to the Lord Jesus Christ. The demon asks for a receptacle, but Cyriacus replies that it is Jesus Christ himself who orders it to leave. Reacting to this name, the demon leaves with a loud lamentation. Iobia is saved.

§ 15: Cyriacus tells Iobia to believe in the Son of God in order to be protected forever; she states her belief. He makes her a catechumen (catechumena) according to custom, initiates her (catechizare), water is brought, and coming out of baptism in a silver basin (concha) she proclaims that Jesus Christ is God. All her relatives are baptised and the king, and several others, in total 420 people. Shapur offers Cyriacus manifold riches, but Cyriacus declines them all. He receives only bread and water, and says that no price can be put on Christ’s grace, only faith. After 45 days, Cyriacus, Largus and Smaradgus return to Rome by boat, with letters from the king recommending them; there they live in peace in the house given to Cyriacus by Diocletian near the emperor's baths.

§ 16: Two months later, Diocletian leaves Rome for Dalmatia, where, fatigued by illness, he makes his will, arranges for his sons to rule as co-heirs (coheredes), and dies. Hearing this, his son Maximian orders the persecution of Christians, wherever they might be found. Because of what happened with his sister Artemia, he arrests Cyriacus and, as an example to all Christians, he has him stripped and led before his carriage (ante rhedam) on the day of his procession.

§ 17: Marcellus appears on the day of the procession and asks Max