Martyr 3rd century

Martyr Marinus of Rome

3rd century (martyred c. 262)

Also known as Marinus of Caesarea

A Christian soldier who refused a pagan military oath when about to be promoted and was tortured and beheaded for Christ.

Feast Day

December 16

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Marinus the Soldier

Come to them for

Military Service

Life

Marinus was a Christian soldier of the 3rd century who, according to the earliest account, came from a wealthy and noble family and had risen through a successful career in the Roman army. When he stood to be promoted to the rank of centurion, his Christian faith was exposed, and he was put to death for refusing the pagan sacrifice that the office demanded.

His martyrdom is preserved by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, who recounts how a rival for the post objected that a Christian could not lawfully receive Roman office, and how Marinus, given a brief reprieve, chose the Gospel over his sword and was beheaded for his confession. He is commemorated as a martyr, with the in-repo record observing his feast on December 16.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

3rd century Military career Marinus, said to come from a rich and noble family, advanced through a successful career in the Roman army until he stood in line to receive the rank of centurion.
At his promotion Faith exposed A rival for the centurion's post objected that, according to ancient law, the office required a sacrifice to the emperor, and that Marinus as a Christian could not lawfully hold it. Marinus, who had kept his faith private, openly confessed himself a Christian.
Three hours' reprieve The Gospel and the sword The judge granted Marinus three hours to reconsider. The bishop Theotecnus took him into the church and set before him his sword and the book of the Gospels, asking which he preferred; Marinus reached out his right hand and took the Scripture.
c. 262 Martyrdom Returning to the tribunal firmer in faith, Marinus refused the sacrifice and was beheaded. According to the account, a Roman senator named Astyrius took up his body and gave it an honorable burial.

Contributions & Legacy

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The Crisis of the Centurion's Oath

The defining episode of Marinus's life is the dispute over his promotion. He had served capably and was about to receive the rank of centurion when a competitor for the same post raised an objection: under ancient law, the holder of such Roman office was required to offer sacrifice to the emperor, and Marinus, as a Christian who would not sacrifice, was therefore ineligible.

Until this moment Marinus had kept his Christian faith secret. The challenge forced the question into the open, and he professed his faith plainly, explaining that it prevented him from making the demanded sacrifice. The matter thus turned on the conflict between Roman civic-religious duty and Christian confession that lay at the heart of the pre-Nicene persecutions.

The Choice Between Sword and Gospel

After Marinus confessed his faith, the presiding judge gave him three hours to change his mind. During that interval the bishop Theotecnus intervened, leading Marinus into the church and to the sanctuary.

There the bishop pointed to the sword that hung at Marinus's side and at the same time placed before him the book of the divine Gospels, telling him to choose which he preferred. Without hesitation Marinus stretched out his right hand and took the Scripture. The bishop blessed him to hold fast to God. Returning to the tribunal more resolute than before, Marinus refused the ritual sacrifice and was led away to be beheaded.

Sources and Burial

The earliest surviving account of the martyrdom is given by Eusebius of Caesarea in his Ecclesiastical History, who sets the events in the reign of the emperor Gallienus. Eusebius records that the centurion's rank was marked by the vine-branch insignia, names the judge as Achaeus, and identifies the bishop as Theotecnus.

Eusebius further relates that Astyrius, a Roman senator of wealth and distinction, was present at the execution, took up the martyr's body, and gave it a costly and fitting burial; this senator is himself venerated as a martyr. The in-repo record places the saint's origin in Italy / Rome and observes his feast on December 16, while the historical accounts associate the soldier-martyr of this name with Caesarea in Palestine.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints