Saint Marcellus the Centurion and his children

Anastasius Fortunatus, to whom Agricola, prefect of the praetorium and governor of Mauretania and the Spains, had given command of the troops of the province of Leon, wishing to make a solemn sacrifice to the gods to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor Diocletian, had it published in all the places of his jurisdiction that everyone should go to the city to attend this festival. As it was to be accompanied by splendid banquets, a great crowd of people gathered there; everywhere one heard only sacrilegious cries and abominable songs in honor of the false divinities. Marcellus was deeply t ouched Marcel Roman centurion and martyr in Spain and North Africa. by these profanations, and, unable to contain his zeal or suffer the impiety of these idolaters, he publicly detested their sacrifices and threw his belt and his weapons to the ground; then, in the presence of the eagles of the empire and the signs of his religion, he declared that he was a Christian and protested that he would never leave the service of Jesus Christ to worship these gods of wood and stone. It took no more for the soldiers to throw themselves upon him and lead him to Fortunatus. The latter had him put in prison until the ceremony was finished; and, as soon as he was free from business, he had him appear before his tribunal. Marcellus confessed to him everything he had done, declared again that he was a Christian and that one would never force him to sacrifice to idols. Fortunatus, judging by his firmness that he would gain nothing from him, sent him, loaded with chains Tanger Place of the martyrdom of Saint Marcellus. , to Tangier, where Agricola was then; the latter, finding him unshakable in the confession of Jesus Christ, immediately condemned him to be beheaded: which was executed on October 30, 298. The Christians took his body, embalmed it, and buried it religiously in the same city; in the year 1483, on March 30, it was transferred by the care of a priest named Isla to Leon, and deposited in the first parish dedicated under his name, in the presence of th e Catholic King Ferdinan roi catholique Ferdinand King of Spain present during the translation of the relics in 1483. d, the great men of the court, and the principal lords of the kingdom.

The children imitated the constancy of their father, since they all lost their lives through various tortures for the support of the Gospel; it is noted among others that Claudius, Lupercius, and Victorius were hanged, then beheaded in Leon by the command of Diogenianus, successor to Fortunatus, who did not wish to expose them to further torments, for fear that the Christians might be fertilized by their example, and so that they themselves would not have the glory of having suffered much f or Jesus Christ. Leur pieuse mère Wife of Saint Marcellus. Their pious mother redeemed their bodies with money and buried them in a secret place, from where they were transferred to a church built in their honor in the same city. In the year 1173, they were placed in a more honorable location, in the presence of Cardinal Hyacinth, John, Bishop of Leon, and Pelagius, Abbot of the monaster Ordre de Saint-Benoît Religious order occupying the monastery of Honnecourt. y of the Order of Saint Benedict which had been founded on the very site of their burial.

Saint Marcellus is depicted: 1° wearing the armor of the centurions of the Trajan Legion; 2° throwing his sword belt to the ground to resign from service so as not to cooperate in the idolatrous rites that accompanied the emperor's feast.

We have preserved the substance of Father Giry's account.

Saint Marcellus is depicted: 1° wearing the armor of the centurions of the Trajan legion; 2° throwing his sword belt to the ground to resign from service so as not to cooperate in the idolatrous rites that accompanied the emperor's feast.

We have preserved the substance of Father Giry's account.