E00398: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Marcellinus (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00660), tells of his martyrdom with three others, Claudius, Quirinus/Cyrinus and Antoninus, and their burial in the cemetery of Priscilla on the via Salaria nova outside Rome, close to the body of *Criscentio (Crescentio, martyr of Rome, buried on the via Salaria, S00530), on 25 April [AD 304].

Liber Pontificalis 30

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Marcellinus, natione Romanus, ex patre Proiecto, sedit ann. VIIII m. IV d. XVI. Fuit autem temporibus Diocletiani et Maximiani, ex die kal. iul. a consulatu Diocletiani VI et Constantio II usque Diocletiano VIIII et Maximiano VIII, quo tempore fuit persecutio magna, ut intra XXX diebus XVII milia hominum promiscui sexus per diversas provincias martyrio coronarentur. De qua re et ipse Marcellinus ad sacrificium ductus est ut turificaret: quod et fecit. Et post paucos dies penitentiam ductus ab eodem Diocletiano pro fide Christi cum Claudio et Quirino et Antonino capite sunt truncati et martyrio coronantur. Et iacuerunt corpora sancta in platea ad exemplum christianorum dies XXVI ex iussu Diocletiani. Tunc Marcellus presbiter collegit noctu corpora sanctorum et sepelivit in via Salaria, in cimiterio Priscillae, in cubiculum qui patet usque in hodiernum diem, quod ipse praeceperat penitens dum trahetur in occisionem, in cripta, iuxta corpus sancti Criscentionis, VII kal. mai.

'Marcellinus, born in Rome, son of Projectus, held the see 9 years 4 months 16 days. He was bishop in the time of Diocletian and Maximian, from 1 July in the 6th consulship of Diocletian and 2nd of Constantius [AD 296] to the 9th of Diocletian and 8th of Maximian [AD 304], when there was so great a persecution that within 30 days 17,000 persons of both sexes were crowned with martyrdom in various provinces. This was why Marcellinus also was taken to sacrifice, to offer incense, which he did. After a few days overcome with repentance, along with Claudius, Quirinus, and Antoninus, he was beheaded and crowned with martyrdom by Diocletian. After this the holy bodies lay in the street for 26 days at Diocletian’s command as an example to the Christians. Then the priest Marcellus brought the bodies together and buried them on the via Salaria in the cemetery of Priscilla in the chamber which is still open today, as he had ordered when he repented and was being taken to his death, in the crypt close to the body of saint Crescentius, on 25 April.'


Second edition

Marcellinus, natione Romanus, ex patre Proiecto, sedit ann. VIIII m. IV d. XVI. Fuit autem temporibus Diocletiani et Maximiani, ex die kal. iul. a consulatu Diocletiani VI et Constantio II usque Diocletiano VIIII et Maximiano VIII, quo tempore fuit persecutio magna, ut intra XXX diebus XVII milia hominum promiscui sexus per diversas provincias martyrio coronarentur christiani. De qua re et ipse Marcellinus ad sacrificium ductus est ut turificaret, quod et fecit. Et post paucos dies, penitentiam ductus ab eodem Diocletiano pro fide Christi cum Claudio et Cyrino et Antonino capite sunt truncati et martyrio coronantur. Et post hoc factum iacuerunt corpora sancta in platea ad exemplum christianorum dies XXV ex iussu Diocletiani. Et exinde Marcellus presbiter collegit noctu corpora cum presbyteris et diaconibus cum hymnis et sepelivit in via Salaria, in cymiterio Priscillae, in cubiculum qui patet usque in hodiernum diem, quod ipse praeceperat penitens dum trahetur ad occisionem, in crypta, iuxta corpus sancti Criscentionis, VII kal. mai.

'Marcellinus, born in Rome, son of Projectus, held the see 9 years 4 months 16 days. He was bishop in the time of Diocletian and Maximian, from 1 July in the 6th consulship of Diocletian and 2nd of Constantius [296] to the 9th of Diocletian and 8th of Maximian [AD 304], when there was so great a persecution that within 30 days 17,000 persons of both sexes were crowned with martyrdom as Christians in various provinces. This was why Marcellinus also was taken to sacrifice, to offer incense, which he did. After a few days overcome with repentance, along with Claudius, Cyrinus, and Antoninus, he was beheaded and crowned with martyrdom by Diocletian. After this the holy bodies lay in the street for 25 days at Diocletian’s command as an example to the Christians. Then the priest Marcellus with priests and deacons brought the bodies together at night with hymns, and buried them on the via Salaria in the cemetery of Priscilla in the chamber which is still open today, as he had ordered when he repented and was being taken to his death, in the crypt close to the body of saint Crescentio, on 25 April.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 73 and 162. Translation: Davis 2010, 12, lightly modified.