Saints Marcellinus and Peter

Marcellinus was a priest and Peter an exorcist of the Church of Rome. They died in 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, and their cult is very ancient. Their story comes to us from Pope Damasus, a century later, who says he heard it as a boy from the executioner himself. They were taken to a place called the Black Wood, on the Via Cornelia — out of the way on purpose, so that no one would know where they ended up — tortured and beheaded. They were made to dig their own grave. Then a woman, the matron Lucilla, found the bodies and had them laid in the catacombs Ad Duas Lauros, on the Via Labicana, where Torpignattara is today. Linked to their story is that of Artemius, Candida and Paulina, whom they had converted and baptized while they were in prison. Pope Siricius had a basilica built over the burial place, and their names entered the Canon of the Roman Mass, where they are still read. The relics had a long journey: Pope Gregory IV sent them to France, and from there Einhard — Charlemagne’s biographer — brought them to the abbey of Seligenstadt, on the Main. Einhard wrote an account of the transfer that is one of the most curious texts of the ninth century. If your name is Marcellino, today is your name day.