Roman Catholic Pope and Saint. Prior to his election as pope, the christian faith had been considerably tested by the Diocletian persecution and was in general disarray. Churches and scriptures were burned or destroyed, the faithful killed or tortured and many fell into apostasy. In 308, he was elected pope and attempted to salvage the faith. He divided the administration down to twenty-five local levels where the priest would be responsible for religious education, burial of the death and holy days. Marcellus ran into problems when he demanded lapsed christians perform penance before re-admittance into the Church's graces. Some of the apostates chafed under these restrictions which led to rioting in Rome. In frustration, the Emperor Maxentius banished him from Rome and he died shortly after in exile. Originally interred at Saint Priscilla in Rome, his relics were later transferred to beneath the altar of San Marcello.
Roman Catholic Pope and Saint. Prior to his election as pope, the christian faith had been considerably tested by the Diocletian persecution and was in general disarray. Churches and scriptures were burned or destroyed, the faithful killed or tortured and many fell into apostasy. In 308, he was elected pope and attempted to salvage the faith. He divided the administration down to twenty-five local levels where the priest would be responsible for religious education, burial of the death and holy days. Marcellus ran into problems when he demanded lapsed christians perform penance before re-admittance into the Church's graces. Some of the apostates chafed under these restrictions which led to rioting in Rome. In frustration, the Emperor Maxentius banished him from Rome and he died shortly after in exile. Originally interred at Saint Priscilla in Rome, his relics were later transferred to beneath the altar of San Marcello.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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