Cyriacus (cf. Acta Sanct., Jan., II, 10–14) and is followed by the Liber Pontificalis, gives a different account of the end of Marcellus. According to this version, the pope was required by Maxentius, who was enraged at his reorganization of the church, to lay aside his episcopal dignity and make an offering to the gods. On his refusal, he was condemned to work as a slave at a station on the public highway (catabulum). At the end of nine months he was set free by the clergy; but a matron named Lucina having had her house on the Via Lata consecrated by him as "titulus Marcelli" he was again condemned to the work of attending to the horses brought into the station, in which menial occupation he died. All this is probably legendary, the reference to the restoration of ecclesiastical activity by Marcellus alone having an historical basis. The tradition related in the verses of Damasus seems much more worthy of belief. The feast of Saint Marcellus, whose name is to this day borne by the church at Rome mentioned in the above legend, is still celebrated on 16 January. There still remains to be mentioned Mommsen's peculiar view that Marcellus was not really a bishop, but a simple Roman presbyter to whom was committed the ecclesiastical administration during the latter part of the period of vacancy of the papal chair. According to this view, 16 January was really the date of Marcellus' death, the next occupant of the chair being Eusebius (Neues Archiv, 1896, XXI, 350–3). This hypothesis has, however, found no support. See also List of Catholic saints List of popes Notes References Liber Pontificalis, ed. Louis Duchesne, I, 164–6; cf. Introduction, xcix–c; Acta SS., January, II, 369 Joseph Langen, Geschichte der Römischen Kirche I, 379 sqq. Paul Allard, Histoire des persécutions, V, 122–4 Louis Duchesne, Histoire ancienne de l'Église, II, 95–7. External links Opera Omnia Colonnade Statue in St Peter's Square 309 deaths 4th-century Christian saints 4th-century Romans Papal saints Popes Year of birth unknown 4th-century popes 255 births Ancient Roman exiles