Marcellinus of Carthage facts for kids

Marcellinus of Carthage was a Christian martyr and saint who died in 413. He was secretary of state of the Western Roman Empire under Roman emperor Honorius and a close friend of Augustine of Hippo, as well as a correspondent of Saint Jerome. Saint Augustine dedicated the first books of his landmark The City of God to Marcellinus in 413.

Life

Flavius Marcellinus was born in Toledo in Spain, and had a brother, Apringius. He came to hold the rank of tribunus et notarius under Emperor Honorius. He was described as "a cultured, generous aristocrat, interested in theology". His interest in religious questions, brought about close and friendly relations between him and St. Augustine, who wrote him several letters, and dedicated various books to him ("De peccatorum meritis et remissione", "De baptismo parvulorum", and the first three books of "De Civitate Dei"). Saint Jerome also wrote him. He was married to Anapsychia.

Death

In 413, the Donatists accused Marcellinus and Apringius of involvement in the rebellion of Heraclianus. General Marinus, who had quashed the rebellion and who had Donatist sympathies, arrested the brothers and put them in prison. Even with Saint Augustine intervening on their behalf with Caecilian, the presiding judge of their case, the two brothers were executed, on September 13. The following year, Marcellinus was exonerated by Emperor Honorius.

Veneration

Marcellinus was subsequently listed in the Roman Martyrology.

Saint Marcellinus has a statue adorning the spire atop the south transept of the Duomo di Milano, and a statue on the southern half of Bernini's colonnade in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

See also

In Spanish: Marcelino de Cartago para niños