Marcellinus Carthage

Background

Flavius Marcellinus was born in Toledo in Spain, and came to hold the rank of tribunus et notarius under Emperor Honorius.

Career

Saint Augustine dedicated the first books of his landmark The City of God to Marcellinus in 413. He was described as "a cultured, generous aristocrat, interested in theology". His interest in religious questions, brought about close and friendly relations between him and Saint Augustine, who wrote him several letters, and dedicated various books to him ("De peccatorum meritis et remissione", "De baptismo parvulorum", the first three books of "De Civitate Dei").

Saint Jerome also wrote him.

Donatist controversy

In Africa, the dispute between the Donatists and the Orthodox was not only doctrinal but also involved regional and social tensions: Numidia against proconsular Africa, and proletarians against Roman landowners. In 405 an imperial decree declared the Donatists heretics and prescribed confiscation of their property.

The fall of Stilicho in 408, led them to hope for a change in imperial policy. However, in 410 Marcellinus was given instructions to "abolish the new superstition".

The orthodox bishops hoped the Donatists would be more susceptible to reasoned debate and petitioned the emperor to call a conference.

Marcellinus was sent to Africa in 411 charged with presiding over the Conference of Carthage in early June of that year. In his summons to the parties, Marcellinus made no secret of the emperor"s position. Bishops representing each side of the controversy debated the issue.

Marcellinus, as the emperor"s representative, ruled that the Donatists were heretics and that they had to give up their churches and return to churches under the control of orthodox bishops and priests.

According to John T. Noonan, the Donatists alleged that Marcellinus had been bribed as that was a stronger argument than that he was merely enforcing imperial policy. The judgment was enforced by the Roman army with great severity.

Subsequently, some of the Donatists engaged in sporadic violence against orthodox priests. Marcellinus presided at the trials of those arrested.

Augustine appealed for clemency both to Marcellinus and Marcellinus"s brother Apringius, who was proconsul for Africa.

Noonan views the fact that Augustine and Marcellinus remained close friends as suggesting that the bishop"s petition was granted. Death

General Marinus, who had put down the rebellion and who had Donatist sympathies, arrested the brothers and put them in prison. Even with Bishop Augustine intervening on their behalf with Cecilian, the judge in the case, the two brothers were executed, on September 13.

The following year, Marcellinus was exonerated by Emperor Honorius.

Marcellinus was subsequently listed in the Roman Martyrology. A statue of Street Marcellinus stands atop the south transept spire of the Duomo di Milano, and also on the south colonnade in Saint Peter"s Square.

Connections

Friend:

Roman Emperor Honorius