Marcellinus (Bishop of Rome)

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According to the Liberian Catalog , St. Marcellinus († 304 ) was elected Bishop of Rome on June 30, 296 . It is not mentioned in the Martyrologium hieronymianum , the Depositio episcoporum or the Depositio martyrum .

Marcellinus' episcopate began under Emperor Diocletian , but the latter had not yet started his persecution of Christians . He gave Christianity abundant freedoms so that the church grew. Caesar Galerius led the pagan movement against the Christians and was finally able to turn Diocletian against Christianity in 302. First Christian soldiers had to leave the army, later church property was confiscated and Christian books destroyed. After two fires in his palace, Diocletian took tougher measures: Christians had to apostate or they were sentenced to death.

The Liber Pontificalis - based on the deeds of Saint Marcellinus , a text lost today - reports that during Diocletian's persecution Marcellinus found death a martyr . A dispute arose later as to whether Marcellinus had in fact renounced the faith in order to save his life. This dispute lasted into the 6th century.

Marcellinus is the first bishop of Rome for whom the title papa (Pope) can be proven, even if not as a self-designation.

According to the Liber Pontificalis , Marcellinus was buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla on April 26, 304 , on Via Salaria, 25 days after his martyrdom. The Liberian Catalog states October 25th. After a long vacancy he was followed by Marcellus I , with whom he was sometimes confused because of the similarity of names.

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Commons : Marcellinus  - collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Cajus Bishop of Rome
(the term Pope was first used after 384)
296–304 		Marcellus I.
personal data
SURNAME Marcellinus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bishop of Rome (296-304)
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century
DATE OF DEATH 304