Confession and Martyrdom
According to the Synaxarion, Marinus witnessed pagans offering sacrifices to their false gods. Acting on his faith, he destroyed the altar and trampled upon the idols, confessing aloud that he was a Christian.
He was arrested and subjected to severe tortures: he was beaten with whips, suspended while his sides were raked, struck with stones that knocked out his teeth, and dragged along the ground by his hair. He was then bound and brought before the archon (the local magistrate), who, after inflicting still further tortures, ordered him to be beheaded with a sword.
Sources and Uncertainty
None of the surviving accounts specify the time or place of Marinus's martyrdom; the Orthodox Church Synaxarion explicitly notes that this information has not been preserved. His commemoration falls within the pre-Nicene era of persecution.
His account derives from the Byzantine Synaxaristes, the collection from which the Orthodox calendar entry is drawn.
Distinction from Marinus of Caesarea
This Marinus is a distinct saint from Marinus of Caesarea, the soldier-martyr commemorated on August 7 and December 16, who was a Roman soldier promoted to centurion, counseled by Bishop Theotecnus, and beheaded around 262. Although some references list the commemoration dates March 17, August 7, and December 16 together, the Orthodox Church distinguishes the idol-destroying Marinus of March 17 from Marinus of Caesarea, maintaining separate accounts for each.
