MARCELLUS: The name of two popes. Marcellus I.: Pope 308-309. According to the Liber pontificalis a Roman by birth, he succeeded Mareellinus after a vacancy of four years (not seven as the Liber pontificalis and the Catalogue LZer ianvs give) due to the persecution. He was ban ished by Maxentius, not, however, as a Christian, but on account of the fierce quarrels which then vexed the Roman church as to the treatment of the lapsed, and induced the emperor to seek peace by the banishment of the heads of both parties. He seems not to have died in exile, and was appar ently buried in the cemetery of Priscilla. Little else is known of him with any certainty. The as sertion that he delivered the sacred books to the heathen and offered incense rests on a confusion with his predecessor arising from the similarity of their names.

(A. Harnack.)

Bibliography: Liber pontificalis, ed. Mommsen in MGH, Gut. pont. Rom., i (1898), 43-44, ed. Duchesne, i. 165, Paris, 1886; B. Platina, Lives of the Popes, i. 64-65, London, n.d.; Bower, Popes, i. 40-41. Marcellus II. (Marcello Cervini): Pope 1555; b. at Montefano, in the March of Ancona, May 6, 1501; d. at Rome May 1, 1555. He became a car dinal under Paul III. in 1539, and was papal legate during the opening period of the Council of Trent. He belonged to the party which strove for a reform of the Church on medieval principles. Great hopes were entertained of the results to follow from his pontificate, but it lasted only from Apr. 10 to May 1, and gave him no time to take any decisive steps.

(A. Hauck.)

Bibliography: P. Polidoro, De vita, testis et moribua Mar- eeUi 11.. Rome, 1744 (depends upon a MS. life by the brother of Marcellus); Ranks; Popes, i. 212, iii. 153-155; Bower, Popes, iii. 318.

MARCELLUS: The name of five Christian martyrs besides Marcellus I., bishop of Rome (q.v.).

1. A certain Marcellus is said to have been martyred by the Prefect Priscus at Chalon-surSafte during the reign of Antoninus Pius, probably in 140. His festival is appointed for Sept. 4, but some throw doubt on the historicity of the legend.

2. Marcellus the Centurion, beheaded at Tingis (Tangier) on the birthday of the Emperor Diocletian, probably in 298, for refusing to celebrate the occasion with sacrifices.

S. A third Marcellus, born at Rome, was martyred, according to tradition, at Argenton-sur-Creuse (165 m. s.w. of Paris) during the reign of Aurelian. Fleeing from the persecutions of tblis emperor to the city where he was fated to die, he attracted the attention of the Prefect Heraclius by his miracles and

was scourged and roasted without being harmed. He was accordingly beheaded, while his friend Anastssius was scourged to death. Both these martyrs are commemorated on June 29.

4. Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea (the modern Kalaat al-Madik, 120 m. n.e. of Beirut) was burned to death during the reign of Theodosius the Great by a pagan mob roused by his destruction of their temples.

6. Marcellus, Bishop of Die, was born at Avig non, and died a prisoner of the Arians at Die (100 m. n. of Marseilles), early in the sixth century. He succeeded his brother as bishop and at his conse cration a dove descended on his head. Refusing to accept Arian teachings, however, he was im prisoned until his death. His festival is appointed for Apr. 9. (G. U11raoxNt.)