E02533: The Latin Martyrdom of *Marinus (martyr of Rome, S01240) is written at an uncertain date, by the 8th c. at the latest. It narrates the many tortures miraculously endured by Marinus; his death by beheading and burial in an 'elevated place' in Rome by the care of bishop Theophilus and other clerics; angels coming down from heaven to adorn his burial place; the death of the emperor Martianus. Probably a translation from the corresponding Greek text.

Martyrdom of Marinus (BHL 5538)

Summary:

§ 1: Short prologue praising martyrs (starting: “Verbo vitae seminato”). Marinus, vir illustris, is the son of a senator of Rome. He is arrested by the emperor Martianus and interrogated. He tells the emperor that he is Christian and is summoned to offer sacrifice.

§§ 2-5: Marinus refuses to sacrifice, is tortured on a rack then sent to prison. The next day he is again summoned to sacrifice, and tortured on a rack as he refuses. Marinus prays to God as he is tortured and refuses to yield to the emperor’s request. He is further tortured, his legs are broken, but he praises the Lord, while the torturers are exhausted. They tell the emperor that they cannot defeat him. The emperor tries other ways to quickly kill Marinus but they fail, and he tries in vain to convince Marinus to sacrifice.

§§ 6-8: The emperor orders a burning gridiron to be prepared, Marinus gets on it, makes a sign of the cross, thanks God and asks for refreshment. Immediately water flows and extinguishes the fire. The commentariensis Simplicius suggests a frying pan be heated and Marinus thrown into it. When this is done Marinus glorifies the Lord and tells the emperor to eat some of his flesh, if the Lord does not prevent it. Immediately dew comes down from heaven, extinguishes the fire, and refreshes the pan. Martianus then tries to kill Marinus in a hot bath of pitch following the governor Culcius’ advice, but it again fails, as the copper container in which he is thrown breaks. Then the emperor brings him to the circus and two hundred ministers come to witness the spectacle. Marinus is again summoned to sacrifice but refuses.

§§ 9-10: Marinus is tortured on a rack in front of the crowd, then brought into the arena, where a lion and a leopard are prepared. However, the lion at first refuses to enter the circus; when forced it enters with the leopard, and stays around Marinus’ legs, while the leopard stays at his feet. The emperor is surprised while Marinus prays to God. Although the emperor orders the animals to be taken away, they do not move until instructed to do so by Marinus. The emperors sends a huge lioness (leaena) and a huge she-bear (ursa), which rush at Marinus’ feet, tear his garments and die. Marinus prays to Jesus Christ asking to be freed from the devil; he is further threatened by the emperor but keeps his resolve.

§§ 11-12: The emperor sends a leopard and a tiger that come to Marinus, one of them kissing Marinus’ mouth the other wiping his sweat. Martianus is amazed and orders Marinus to be bound to a bull’s horn, then the bull’s back to be burnt. However the bull does not move but licks Marinus. He is then sent to prison. The guardian of the prison Simplicius suggests that Marinus should be burnt by fire, first on a pyre and, if it fails, in a burning furnace. He remains untouched by the fire in the pyre. Marinus then prays to Jesus Christ asking for his help and evoking the three Hebrews in the furnace (Daniel 3:23), makes the sign of the cross and enters the furnace; two angels come and place a throne in the middle of the fire on which Marinus sits, the fire soon being extinguished. Marinus praises the Lord.

§§ 13-14: The next day the emperor orders the furnace to be opened, aiming to discard Marinus’ dust to avoid it being honoured by Christians in a monument (memoria). Marinus comes out of the furnace telling the ministers that he is freezing. He is brought to the emperor, and they again fight each other in a dialogue. The commentariensis Simplicius suggests that Marinus should be further tortured.

§§ 15-16: Then Marinus pretends that he agrees to offer sacrifice. Martianus rejoices and, to celebrate, prepares a great spectacle in the circus for all the Roman citizens in honour of Serapis and Augustus. Marinus is brought to offer sacrifice to the gods Serapis, Diana and the mother of gods in the Capitol. Marinus asks who is the greatest among the gods, Martianus tells him that the greatest are Serapis and Chronos. Marinus kneels and invokes God the Father, then stands up and gives thanks to God in a prayer and asks Him to show his glory by destroying all the gods. Immediately all the gods are destroyed and become dust. All the people of the city of Rome proclaim that the Christian God is great. Marinus tells the emperor that he is ready to sacrifice if the gods raise again but that it will not happen as they have been destroyed by God. Martianus orders him to be beheaded.

§§ 17-18: Hearing this order Marinus greatly rejoices, asking God to come and take his head, as well as his soul. Marinus’ father, seeing his son being led to die, tears off his garments, puts ashes on his head, and cries out in despair. Similarly, his mother tears her hair and garments revealing her breasts to the judge and, comparing her only son to a calf stolen from the herd, she still comforts him and tells that she has offered him to Christ. Marinus kisses and embraces his mother and greets everyone. Arriving at the place of execution, he prays thanking God and asking him to be freed from the devil. He greets all, kneels and hands his spirit to the Lord. He is beheaded when he is already dead.

§ 19: The ministers throw Marinus’ body where the bodies of thieves are thrown. Martianus orders a watch to be kept over the body to prevent Christians from taking it, burying it and worshipping it in a monument (memoria). A huge flood follows and those guarding the body flee. The bishop Theophilus collects the body and looks for a place to bury the martyr, together with Apelius, Jacobus, Theagenes, Euthitius, Alexander, Marcus, Euthicus, Filetus, Rufus, Philippus, Alexander, Macedonius, Obsippus, Euthirius, Policarpus, Pionius, Strato, Aristides and other churchmen (viri ecclesiastici). At night they come and collect the relics (reliquiae) of the martyr and bury it in an eminent place (excelsus locus) of Rome, which is the actual name of the burial place. A loud sound comes down from heaven, and a multitude of angels, sanctifying the place where the relics of the martyr are laid down. They place a date palm (dactulus) by his head, an olive-tree by his feet and a vine to his left and right.

§ 20: After this, the emperor becomes mad, he is advised by his chamber-servants (cubicularii) to offer sacrifice to Diana and Serapis. After performing sacrifice, he orders the martyr’s parents to be brought to him in the Capitol to offer sacrifice but they do nothing. A sword (rumphea) falls from heaven on the emperor’s feet and he flees back to his palace. There, lying with fever, he realises that his illness is brought by Marinus and proclaims that the God of Christians is great, asking for his sins to be forgiven. Immediately he is healed and goes to adore Serapis in the Capitol. There, a burning rod (virga) comes down from heaven and hits him. He comes back to the palace, again proclaiming that the God of Christians is great, and asking for his help. He is immediately freed from any pain. He then asks Serapis to help him, but he immediately falls down on his face, worms coming out of his mouth and he dies. Serapis is of no help to him, but he is punished through God’s wrath. His soul goes to hell and his memory (memoria) is reduced to nothing. All this happens in the city of Rome, on the 7th day before the Calends of January [= 26 December].

Text: Catalogus codicum hagiographicorum latinorum bibliothecae regiae Bruxellensis, Pars I. Codices latini membranei, Tome 2 (Brussels, 1889), 184-191.