Introduction to the Acta Sanctorum
ON THE HOLY MARTYRS ARGAEUS, NARCISSUS, AND MARCELLINUS AT TOMIS IN PONTUS.
Under Licinius.
CommentaryArgaeus, Martyr at Tomis in Pontus (St.) Marcellinus, Martyr at Tomis in Pontus (St.) Narcissus, Martyr at Tomis in Pontus (St.)
From various authors.
[1] [St. Marcellinus is considered a Martyr because he was killed for refusing to serve in the military against the Church.] Because Marcellinus refused to follow the impious tyrant's standards against the Church and the legitimate Prince, he was slain by the same tyrant together with his brothers, and all have been enrolled by the Church in the register of Martyrs. Their Acts are missing; concerning the cause of death, the ancient Martyrologies have this. Usuard: "In Pontus, in the city of Tomis, of three brothers: Argaeus, Narcissus, and the boy Marcellinus, who, seized among the recruits under Prince Licinius, since he refused to serve in the military, was beaten nearly to death and long wasted in prison, What he suffered. then drowned in the sea, and so completed his martyrdom." Bellinus has the same. The Roman Martyrology adds: "His brothers, however, were put to death by the sword." His body washed ashore. Maurolycus and Ado say nearly the same, with Ado adding: "His body, carried to the shore and laid to rest by pious men, shines forth with great miracles."
[2] An ancient manuscript of the monastery of St. Lawrence at Liège, which bore the name of Usuard added in a more recent hand, though it is rather Ado's; likewise an old manuscript of the Professed House of the Society of Jesus at Antwerp: "In Pontus, in the city of Tomis, of three brothers: Argaeus, Narcissus, and the boy Marcellinus, who, seized among the recruits under Licinius, The brothers are said to have suffered the same torments. since they refused to serve in the military, were beaten nearly to death and long wasted in prison, drowned in the sea, and so completed their martyrdom. Their bodies, carried to the shore and laid to rest by pious men, shine forth with great miracles." The manuscript Martyrology of the Church of St. Mary at Utrecht has the same, except that it does not mention the bodies cast upon the shore. The Cologne edition of Usuard from the year 1490 agrees substantially.
[3] Galesinius, I know not on what authority, relates some other details about the brothers: "At Tomis in Pontus, of the holy Martyrs Argaeus, Narcissus, and Marcellinus. The latter, since under Prince Licinius he refused to serve in the military, because he declared himself a Christian and said he ought not therefore be enrolled in the service of one who worshiped idols, While visiting Marcellinus, they are captured. was cruelly beaten with rods for this reason and was long in chains. When his brothers Argaeus and Narcissus once came to visit him, they too were seized and cast into prison, and, remaining steadfast in the Christian faith, they were struck with the axe. Marcellinus, however, was cast into the sea; and so both he and those two were crowned with martyrdom." The German Martyrology has nearly the same.
[4] Notker: "And in Pontus, in the city of Tomis, of three brothers: Argaeus, Narcissus, and the boy Marcellinus. Likewise at Tomis, of Bishop Philus. Who, seized among the recruits under Caesar Licinius, since he refused to serve in the military, was beaten nearly to death and long wasted in prison and placed in the stocks, then drowned in the sea, and so completed his martyrdom. His body, carried to the shore and laid to rest by pious men, shines forth with great miracles." Hrabanus attributes to Bishop Titus on January 3 what is here said of Philus; the manuscript of St. Maximin at Trier similarly places Filo on January 3. But neither mentions Argaeus and his brothers. The scribe has confused the names of St. Marcellinus and Theogenes the bishop's son, who shared the same reason for meeting death. See what will be said below on January 3.
[5] The most ancient manuscript of St. Jerome's Martyrology, January 3: "And in the city of Tomis: Claudo, Eugenius, Rhodius, Some venerate them on January 3. three brothers, Araeus, Narcissus and the Christian boy Marcellinus, and Dioginus, Eugentius, Rodo, Prima." For our conjecture on these, see January 3.