Marcellinus of Carthage facts for kids

Marcellinus of Carthage was an important Christian leader and a saint who lived a long time ago. He was a trusted helper to the Roman emperor Honorius in the Western Roman Empire. Marcellinus was also a very good friend of Saint Augustine, a famous writer and thinker. Saint Augustine even dedicated some of his most important books, called The City of God, to Marcellinus. Marcellinus died in the year 413.

Life of Marcellinus

Flavius Marcellinus was born in Toledo, a city in Spain. He had a brother named Apringius. Marcellinus became an important official for Emperor Honorius. He held a special rank called tribunus et notarius, which meant he was a high-ranking assistant and secretary.

Marcellinus was known as a smart and kind person. He was very interested in religious topics and Christian teachings. Because of this, he became close friends with Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine wrote many letters to Marcellinus. He also dedicated several of his books to him. These books included important works like De peccatorum meritis et remissione and De baptismo parvulorum. He also dedicated the first three books of his most famous work, De Civitate Dei, to Marcellinus. Another famous saint, Saint Jerome, also wrote to Marcellinus. Marcellinus was married to a woman named Anapsychia.

His Unjust Death

In the year 413, Marcellinus and his brother Apringius faced a serious problem. They were wrongly accused of being involved in a rebellion. This rebellion was led by a man named Heraclianus. General Marinus, who had stopped the rebellion, had some sympathy for a group called the Donatists. This group was against Marcellinus.

General Marinus arrested Marcellinus and his brother. He put them in prison. Even though Saint Augustine tried to help them, the brothers were executed. This sad event happened on September 13. The next year, Emperor Honorius cleared Marcellinus's name. The emperor officially stated that Marcellinus was innocent of the charges.

Honoring Saint Marcellinus

After his death, Marcellinus was recognized as a saint. His name was added to the Roman Martyrology. This is a list of saints honored by the Roman Catholic Church.

Today, you can find statues honoring Saint Marcellinus in famous places. One statue is on top of a spire at the Duomo di Milano in Italy. Another statue stands in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City. It is part of the beautiful colonnade designed by Bernini.

See also

In Spanish: Marcelino de Cartago para niños