Mark and Marcellian

Saints Mark and Marcellian
Sts Marcus and Marcellianus (to the right) with Saint Sebastian. From a medieval French manuscript.
Martyrs
Born	Rome, Italy
Died	c. 286 Rome, Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine	Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome
Feast	18 June (Roman Catholic Church), 18 December (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Mark and Marcellian (Latin: Marcus and Marcellianus) are martyrs venerated as saints by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Their cult is sometimes associated with that of Saints Tranquillinus, Martia, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castulus and Tiburtius, though not in the official liturgical books of the Church, which mention only Mark and Marcellianus (in first place) among the saints for 18 June. Their mention in the General Roman Calendar on that date from before the time of the Tridentine Calendar was removed in the 1969 revision, because nothing is known about them except their names, the fact of their martyrdom, and that they were buried on 18 June in the cemetery of Santa Balbina on the Via Ardeatina.

Their legend states that they were martyred at Rome under the Emperor Diocletian towards the end of the third century, most likely in the year 286. They are mentioned in most of the ancient martyrologies, including the Roman Martyrology, and their martyrdom is described in the Acts of St Sebastian, which, though ancient, is largely legendary.

According to tradition, Mark and Marcellian were twin brothers from a distinguished family. They lived in Rome and became deacons in the early Church. When they refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, they were arrested. Their parents, Tranquillinus and Martia, visited them in prison, urging them to renounce their being Christians.

However, Saint Sebastian convinced them not to abandon their faith. Sebastian converted Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as Tiburtius, the son of Chromatius, the local prefect. Nicostratus, another official, and his wife Zoe, were also converted. According to the legend, Zoe had been a mute for six years. However, she made known to Sebastian her desire to convert to the Church. As soon as she had, her speech returned to her. Nicostratus then brought the rest of the prisoners; these were sixteen people who were also converted by Sebastian.