Life
Marcellus was said to have been a centurion stationed at Tingis (modern-day Tangiers) who refused to participate in the general birthday celebrations of the Emperor Maximian, which would have entailed sacrifice to the Roman gods. Throwing off his military belt, weapons, and vine-branch (the insignia of his rank) Marcellus was soon brought before a judge named Fortunatus. The judge remanded the saint to lay his case before Maximian and Constantius; the latter was friendly to Christians. However, Marcellus was taken to the deputy Praetorian prefect Aurelius Agricolan instead. Marcellus pled guilty to repudiating his allegiance to an earthly leader.
Marcellus was martyred with a sword by the deputy Praetorian prefect called the vicar who was in charge of the Diocese of the Spains, which comprised 5 provinces in Iberia, the North African province of Tingitana and the Balearic Islands.
Afterwards, it is said that the official shorthand writer, a man named Saint Cassian, was so angry at the sentence that he refused to record the court proceedings and was martyred as well.
St Marcellus' relics were later brought to and enshrined at León, and he became a patron saint of the city. The Plaza de San Marcelo in this city is named for him. The church of San Marcelo dates from the 10th century.
Read more about this topic: Marcellus Of Tangier
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