E05798: Agnellus of Ravenna, in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, quotes a Latin funerary inscription of c. 595 from a monasterium dedicated to *Marcus (bishop of Rome, ob. 336, S00420), *Marcellus (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00529), and *Felicula (virgin and martyr of Rome, S02148). The monasterium was located in the church of *Apollinaris (bishop and martyr of Ravenna, S00331) in Classe (near Ravenna, northern Italy). Account written in Ravenna in 830/846.

Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 98

Postquam autem obiit hic beatissimus Iohannes die .xi. mense Ianuarii, sepultus est in ecclesia beati Apolenaris ciuitatis Classis extra muros, in monasterio sanctorum Marci, Marcelli et Feliculae, quod ipse a fundamentis aedificauit et tessellis decorauit, et omnia consummauit. Et super ualuas dicti monasterii uersus metricos continentes inuenietis ita: 

Inclita praefulgent sanctorum limina templo 
Marci, Marcelli Feliculae que simul.  
Pontifices hos Roma cepit, haec martir habetur. 
Horum Gregorius dat papa reliquias 
Quas petit antistes meritis animo que Iohannes, [5]
Paruula pro summis reddere dona parat. 
Oraculum statuit, tanta uirtute repletus, 
Cuius ab auspiciis gratia extat opus. 
Qui bis septeno sacri diadematis anno, 
Tractatu uigili quo regit ecclesiam, [10]
Hanc quoque regentem reuerendi culminis arcem 
Iunxit et euentum traxit ad arbitrium.  
Miranda subito suspendens arte cacumen 
Inflexum reparat parte utraque latus. 
Additus his meritis felix Smaragdus in aeuum, [15]
Cuius in his titulis participantur opes. 

‘However after he died this most blessed John [bishop of Ravenna, 578-595] was buried on the eleventh day after the month of January in the church of St Apollinaris in the city of Classe outside the walls, in the monasterium of Sts Marcus, Marcellus and Felicula, which he built from the foundations and decorated with mosaics, and finished it all. And over the doors of the said monasterium you will find metrical verses containing the following:

The celebrated thresholds gleam in the temple of Sts Marcus, Marcellus and Felicula. Rome had the former as bishops, the latter is considered a martyr. Pope Gregory gives their relics, which John sought, bishop in merits and spirit [5], he is ready to return these small gifts for the highest. Full of such virtue he established the oratory whose structure exists thanks to his authority. In the fourteenth year of [his] holy crown, in which he rules the church with watchful management [10], he also added this ruling stronghold of the venerable building and carried it to its final conclusions. Suddenly suspending the roof with wondrous skill, he repairs the curved wall on each side. Fortunate Smaragdus, inspired forever by these merits [15], whose wealth participated in this foundation.’

Text: Deliyannis 2006. Translation: Deliyannis 2004.