La cavea du théâtre romain de Caesarea maritima, construit sous Hérode Ier le Grand.
Saints Marin et Astère, martyrs
D'après l'historien Eusèbe, saint Marin était militaire en garnison à Césarée de Palestine. Il venait d'être promu au grade de centurion, quand il fut dénoncé comme chrétien par un rival jaloux de sa promotion. Contraint de choisir, il préféra la palme du martyre aux honneurs militaires. Astère, qui était au tribunal, fut aussi décapité pour avoir donné une sépulture à saint Marin. Cela se passait en 308.
Saints Marin et Astère
Martyrs (+ 308)
D'après l'historien Eusèbe, saint Marin était militaire en garnison à Césarée de Palestine. Il venait d'être promu au grade de centurion, quand il fut dénoncé comme chrétien par un rival jaloux de sa promotion. Contraint de choisir, il préféra la palme de martyr aux honneurs militaires. Astère, qui était au tribunal, fut aussi décapité pour avoir donné une sépulture à saint Marin.
À Césarée de Palestine, vers 260, les saints Marin, soldat et Astérius, sénateur, martyrs durant la persécution de l’empereur Galère. Le premier, dénoncé comme chrétien par un compagnon d’armes jaloux, déclara hautement sa foi devant le juge et reçut la couronne du martyre par la décapitation; et quand Astère recueillit le corps du martyr en lui faisant un coussin de son vêtement, aussitôt, rapporte-t-on, il reçut lui-même, avec le martyre, l’honneur qu’il rendait au martyr.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/739/Saints-Marin-et-Astere.html
LE MARTYRE DE SAINT MARIN, SOUS-CENTURION A CÉSARÉE DE PALESTINE, L'AN 262 (2612)
EUSÈBE, Hist. ecclés., VII, 15. — RUINART, Act. sinc., p. 274 et suiv. — TILLEMONT, Mém., t. IV, art. X, sur la perséc. de Valérien. — P. ALLARD, Hist. des perséc., III, 179.
Quoique la paix eût été rendue à toutes les Églises,
un militaire nommé Marin, sous-centurion, distingué par sa naissance et par son
bien, eut néanmoins la tête tranchée à Césarée de Palestine, pour avoir
confessé sa foi au Christ. Voici comment. Le cep de vigne, chez les Romains,
est un insigne d'honneur qui exprime, chez ceux qui l'ont obtenu, le grade de
centurion. Or, un de ces grades était vacant, et Marin, par le rang qu'il
occupait, devait y être promu. Mais un concurrent se présenta au tribunal et
accusa Marin d'être chrétien et de refuser le sacrifice aux empereurs, en
conséquence il ne pouvait être admis à cet honneur; il concluait chue lui-même,
au contraire, y avait des droits certains. Etonné de cette dénonciation, le
juge, qui se nommait Achéus, interrogea d'abord Marin et lui demanda quelle
était sa foi. Puis, le voyant confesser hautement et sans fléchir qu'il était
chrétien, il lui donna trois heures pour délibérer.
Marin, à peine sorti du prétoire, rencontra Théotecne,
l'évêque de la cité, qui l'aborda, s'entretint longuement avec lui, et, le
prenant par la main, le conduisit à l'église. Il le fit entrer jusque dans
l'intérieur du sanctuaire, jusqu'au pied de l'autel; alors, entr'ouvrant un peu
la chlamyde du soldat, il lui montra l'épée qu'il portait au côté, et en même
temps lui présenta le livre des saints Evangiles, lui disant de choisir. Marin,
sans hésiter, étendit la main droite et prit le livre sacré. « Attache-toi
donc, lui dit Théotecne, attache-toi à Dieu. Fort de sa puissance, tu
obtiendras ce que tu as choisi. Va en paix.
Comme il sortait de l'église, le crieur public, devant
les portes du prétoire, l'appelait à comparaître; car le délai venait
d'expirer. Il se présenta donc devant le tribunal et renouvela la profession de
sa foi avec plus d'empressement que la première fois. C'est pourquoi, sans
autre préparation, il fut aussitôt emmené au lieu du supplice, et reçut la
couronne du martyre.
Ce fut pour Asturius l'occasion de témoigner la religieuse indépendance de sa foi, par laquelle il s'est illustré. Asturius était un sénateur de Rome, ami des empereurs et très connu de tous par sa noblesse et son opulence, qui avait assisté au supplice du martyr. Quand tout fut fini, malgré la richesse et l'éclat de la robe blanche dont il était vêtu, il prit le corps sur ses épaules et l'emporta. Puis, l'ayant enseveli avec magnificence, il le déposa dans un tombeau digne de sa fortune et de sa foi. Les familiers de cet homme, qui lui ont survécu jusqu'à nos jours, racontent de lui mille autres exemples de vertu.
LES MARTYRS. TOME II. LE TROISIÈME SIÈCLE. DIOCLÉTIEN. Recueil de pièces authentiques sur les martyrs depuis les origines du christianisme jusqu'au XXesiècle.Traduites et publiées Par le B. P. DOM H. LECLERCQ, Moine bénédictin de Saint-Michel de Farnborough. Imprimi potest FR. FERDINANDUS CABROL, Abbas Sancti Michaelis Farnborough. Die 15 Martii 1903. Imprimatur. Pictavii, die 24 Martii 1903.+ HENRICUS, Ep. Pictaviensis.
Book of Saints
– Marinus and Asterius
Article
(Saints) Martyrs (March
3) (3rd
century) Eusebius relates that Marinus, a soldier who was secretly a
Christian, on being about to be promoted to the rank of centurion, was
denounced by a rival candidate who had come to know of his comrade’s conversion.
The governor of Palestine, after, as usual in such cases, tempting the poor
soldier by offers of favour and advancement to deny Christ, had him beheaded at
Caesarea, A.D. 262. Asterius, a Roman Senator who was witness of the martyrdom,
took away the body of Saint Marinus and gave it decent burial. His own
martyrdom quickly followed upon this act of Christian charity.
MLA Citation
Monks of Ramsgate. “Marinus and Asterius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
24 November 2014. Web. 9 April 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-marinus-and-asterius/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-marinus-and-asterius/
Chapter XV.—The Martyrdom of Marinus at Cæsarea.
1. At this time, when the peace of the churches had been everywhere 2288 restored, Marinus in Cæsarea in Palestine, who was honored for his military deeds, and illustrious by virtue of family and wealth, was beheaded for his testimony to Christ, on the following account.
2. The vine-branch 2289 is a certain mark of honor among the Romans, and those who obtain it become, they say, centurions. A place being vacated, the order of succession called Marinus to this position. But when he was about to receive the honor, another person came before the tribunal and claimed that it was not legal, according to the ancient laws, for him to receive the Roman dignity, as he was a Christian and did not sacrifice to the emperors; but that the office belonged rather to him.
3. Thereupon the judge, whose name was Achæus, 2290 being disturbed, first asked what opinion Marinus held. And when he perceived that he continually confessed himself a Christian, he gave him three hours for reflection.
4. When he came out from the tribunal, Theotecnus, 2291 the bishop there, took him aside and conversed with him, and taking his hand led him into the church. And standing with him within, in the sanctuary, he raised his cloak a little, and pointed to the sword that hung by his side; and at the same time he placed before him the Scripture of the divine Gospels, and told him to choose which of the two he wished. And without hesitation he reached forth his right hand, and took the divine Scripture. “Hold fast then,” says Theotecnus to him, “hold fast to God, and strengthened by him mayest thou obtain what thou hast chosen, and go in peace.”
5. Immediately on his return the herald cried out
calling him to the tribunal, for the appointed time was already completed. And
standing before the tribunal, and manifesting greater zeal for the faith,
immediately, as he was, he was led away and finished his course by death.
Notes
2288
The martyrdom of Marinus after the promulgation of Gallienus’ edict of
toleration and after peace had been, as Eusebius remarks, everywhere restored
to the churches, has caused historians some difficulty. It is maintained,
however, by Tillemont and others, and with especial force by Görres in
the Jahrbücher für prot. Theol., 1877, p. 620 sq., that the martyrdom
of Marinus took place while the usurper Macrianus, who was exceedingly hostile
to the Christians, was still in power in the East, and at a time, therefore,
when the edicts of Gallienus could have no force there. This of course explains
the difficulty completely. The martyrdom then must have taken place toward the
beginning of Gallienus’ reign, for Macrianus was slain as early as 262. Of the
martyr Marinus we know only what Eusebius tells us here.
2289 τὸ
κλῆμα. The centurion received as a badge of office a vine-branch or
vine-switch, which was called by the Romans Vitis.
2290
Achæus is an otherwise unknown person. That he was governor of Palestine, as
Valesius asserts, is apparently a pure assumption, for the term used of him (δικαστής)
is quite indefinite.
2291
On Theotecnus, see above, chap. 14, note 9.
Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of
Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine
SOURCE : http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201.iii.xii.xvi.html
Also known as
Marino
Profile
Soldier in
the Roman army,
and a closet Christian.
When a centurian‘s
post fell open, he and another soldier applied.
Marinus was the first choice, but his rival cited an ancient law that required
a centurian to
offer sacrifice to the emperor. Marinus confessed his Christianity,
and claimed he could not offer the sacrifice. He was given three hours to
change his mind, and spent the time in church with the bishop Theotecnus,
meditating on a sword and scroll of
the gospels.
And the end of his three hours he again refused to make the sacrifice, and
was executed for
his faith.
beheaded c.262 at Caesarea, Palestine
buried by
the Senator Saint Asterius
of Caesarea
Additional Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
sitios en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
websites in nederlandse
spletne strani v slovenšcini
MLA Citation
“Saint Marinus of Caesarea“. CatholicSaints.Info.
27 February 2017. Web. 9 April 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marinus-of-caesarea/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marinus-of-caesarea/
Martyr Marinus the Soldier at Caesarea in Palestine
Commemorated on August 7
The Holy Martyr Marinus (December 16) was a soldier
during the reign of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and his son Gallienus
(260-268).
When he was about to be promoted to centurion, Marinus
refused to swear the customary oath invoking the pagan gods, or to offer
sacrifice to idols. Saint Marinus was beheaded in Caesarea Philippi after cruel
tortures.
Saint Asterius also happened to be present at the
sufferings of the Martyr Marinus. When the execution was over, he took off his
senatorial garb, spread it upon the ground and wrapped the head and body of
Saint Marinus in it. On his own shoulders he carried the martyr’s relics to the
grave and reverently consigned them to earth. For doing this, he was himself
sentenced to death and beheaded in the year 260.
Also known as
Asterus
Asturius
Profile
Roman senator. Martyred for
giving a Christian burial to Saint Marinus
of Caesarea.
beheaded c.262 at Caesarea, Palestine
Additional Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
sitios en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
websites in nederlandse
spletne strani v slovenšcini
MLA Citation
“Saint Asterius of Caesarea“. CatholicSaints.Info.
27 February 2017. Web. 9 April 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-asterius-of-cahttps://catholicsaints.info/saint-asterius-of-caesarea/esarea/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-asterius-of-caesarea/
Martyr Asterius the Senator at Caesarea, in Palestine
Commemorated on August 7
The Holy Martyr Asterius the Senator lived during the
reign of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and his son Gallienus (260-268).
Although he was a Roman senator, Asterius nonetheless held firmly to the
Christian Faith, in spite of the persecutions occurring during those times.
Once, while in Palestine, he came to the city of
Caesarea Philippi, where by custom a pagan feast was made with the offering of
sacrifice to an idol. The demon residing in the idol made the sacrifice
disappear, and this was looked upon as a great wonder. Saint Asterius expelled
the demon by prayer. The sacrifice ceased to be invisible, and the pagans
ceased to celebrate this impious festival.
Saint Asterius also happened to be present at the
sufferings of the Martyr Marinus (December 16). When the execution was over, he
took off his senatorial garb, spread it upon the ground and wrapped the head
and body of Saint Marinus in it. On his own shoulders he carried the martyr’s
relics to the grave and reverently consigned them to earth. For doing this, he
was himself sentenced to death and beheaded in the year 260.
Ecco il racconto di Eusebio. A Cesarea in Palestina era vacante un posto di centurione. Quel posto toccava a Marino. La promozione gli era già stata notificata ed egli era in attesa della consegna della verga di vite, simbolo del grado di centurione romano. Altri però ambivano a quella promozione. Uno dei più ostinati pretendenti si fece avanti dichiarando in tribunale che a Marino, a norma di antiche leggi, era vietato l'accesso a dignità romane, perchè essendo cristiano avrebbe rifiutato di sacrificare all'imperatore.
Il giudice, un certo Acheo, infastidito da questo contrattempo, domandò a Marino quale fosse la sua religione. La risposta del soldato fu chiara e pronta: "Sono cristiano". Il giudice gli diede tre ore di tempo per riflettere. Uscito dal tribunale, Marino incontrò il vescovo Teotecno, che, dopo essersi intrattenuto con lui, lo guidò per mano verso la Chiesa. Entrativi, il vescovo lo condusse ai piedi dell'altare. Sollevandogli il mantello gli indicò la spada appesa al fianco e mostrandogli poi il Vangelo gli disse di scegliere. Marino non ebbe alcuna esitazione e scelse il libro della Sacra Scrittura. "Sii dunque di Dio, concluse il vescovo - sii con Dio e, forte nella grazia, consegui ciò che hai scelto. Va' in pace!".
Erano trascorse le tre ore. Marino, recatosi di nuovo al tribunale, davanti al giudice proclamò la sua fede "con ardire ancora più grande". Tanto bastò perché fosse condannato, seduta stante, alla pena capitale. La sentenza fu eseguita immediatamente. Al martirio del giovane ufficiale era presente il senatore Asterio, che volle emularlo nel coraggio, caricandosi sulle spalle il corpo del martire per dargli degna sepoltura, ben sapendo che quel gesto l'avrebbe compromesso. Infatti - aggiunge Rufino, il traduttore di Eusebio - Asterio condivise quasi subito con Marino l'onore del martirio.
Autore: Piero Bargellini
Marinus van Cesarea, Palestina; martelaar met
Asterius; † 262.
Feest 3 maart (oosterse kerk: 17 maart & 7
augustus).
In het jaar 324 schreef bisschop Eusebius van Cesarea
zijn 'Kerkelijke Geschiedenis'. Hij vertelt daarin over Marinus.
"Het was in de jaren dat de kerken overal in het
Romeinse Rijk vrede genoten en met rust gelaten werden. Juist in die tijd werd
in de Palestijnse stad Cesarea Marinus om zijn getuigenis voor Christus
onthoofd. Hij was een man die hoog in aanzien stond door zijn militaire rang,
zijn geslacht en zijn rijkdom. Hoe kwam het tot zijn terechtstelling? Bij de
Romeinen is de wijnrank een soort ereteken. Wie dat teken bezit, wordt naar men
zegt, honderdman, een eervolle rang in het leger. Nu gebeurde het dat er een vacature
was voor die post. Er werd bepaald dat Marinus op grond van zijn rang het meest
voor die bevordering in aanmerking kwam. Toen trad er een man voor de
rechterstoel met de bewering, dat hij onaanvaardbaar was. Immers hij zou een
hoge Romeinse waardigheid bekleden, terwijl hij in strijd met de oude wetten,
tegelijk christen was. Dat hield in dat hij niet aan de keizers offerde; en dát
voor een militair, wiens hoogste gezag juist de keizer was. Nee, die rang kwam
eerder aan hemzelf toe! De rechter - Achaeus heette hij - was hevig ontsteld.
Hij vroeg aan Marinus van welke richting hij was. Deze bevestigde standvastig
dat hij christen was. Hierop gaf de rechter hem drie dagen bedenktijd om tot
inkeer te komen.
In die bedenktijd zocht de toenmalige bisschop
Theotecnus hem op, greep hem bij hand en voerde hem mee naar de kerk.
Binnengekomen liet hij hem bij het altaar plaatsnemen, sloeg zijn
soldatenmantel een weinig terug en toonde hem het zwaard, waarmee hij omgord
was. Tegelijk hield hij hem het boek der Heilige Evangeliën voor. Hij beval hem
volgens zijn eigen inzicht tussen beide een keuze te maken. Marinus stak zonder
een moment te aarzelen zijn hand uit naar het heilige boek. Waarop Theotecnus
tot hem sprak: 'Houd dan vast, houd goed vast aan God; ik bid dat u mag
verkrijgen wat u hebt gekozen. Ga in vrede.' Op het moment dat Marinus daarvan
terugkwam, werd hij door een bode aangeroepen dat hij voor de rechterstoel
moest verschijnen, want de bedenktijd was voorbij. Eenmaal voor de rechter
gevoerd bleek hij nog steviger vast te houden aan het geloof dan drie geleden.
Hij werd op staande voet ter dood veroordeeld. Onmiddellijk werd hij weggeleid
om de doodstraf te ondergaan. Zo is hij gestorven."
SOURCE : http://heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/03/03/03-03-0262-marinus.php
Voir aussi : https://svetniki.org/sveta-marin-in-asterij-mucenca/