Страдание святого священномученика Маркелла, папы Римского, и прочих с ним

Saint Marcellus was a Roman by birth; his father's name was Venedikt. He accepted the throne of the Roman Church after the holy martyr Marcellinus and remained on it during the reign of the wicked Roman emperors Diocletian 3694, Maximian Herculus 3695, another Maximian, nicknamed Galerius 3696, and Maxentius 3697 for a period of five years and six months. The following events took place in Rome in those days. Emperor Maximian, nicknamed Hercules, was appointed by Diocletian as his co-ruler. Returning to Rome from the African provinces in 3698 and wanting to please Emperor Diocletian, who had slowed down in the east, Maximian began to build stone baths or baths in his honor in Rome, which provided the pagans with vile coolness 3699. Having found among the Roman regiments many soldiers who believed in Christ, Maximian deprived them of their military rank and assigned them the same work that Pharaoh had once given to the Israelites in Egypt in 3700, namely: he forced some to make bricks, others to make lime, others to dig the earth and carry stones to build the mentioned baths. He did all this to intimidate the Christians who were in Rome, for he knew that many Romans, not only from the common people, but also from among the noble people, professed the Christian faith, although not openly. At this time, a certain rich and honest Christian named Frason lived in Rome. Noticing that the Christians were tormented by hard work and exhausted from hunger, Frason wished to secretly help them with his own means; Having chosen four God-fearing men for this purpose, through them he supplied Christians with food, clothing and everything necessary. These men's names were: Sisinius, Kiriak, Smaragd and Largius. When blessed Pope Marcellus learned about this, he rejoiced greatly in his heart over the alms being given to Christians; Having summoned the four men mentioned above and learned from them everything regarding Thrason’s generosity, Marcellus greatly thanked the latter, and appointed Sisinius and Cyriacus to deacons of the Roman church. One night, when both of these deacons were carrying on their shoulders the food sent by Fraso for the holy martyrs, they were seized by the wicked pagans and brought before the tribune Exuperius. As soon as they were brought, the tribune ordered them to be imprisoned in a national prison, and on the third day he reported them to Emperor Maximian. The emperor ordered them to be assigned to the same work that other Christians were doing, and thus they were added to those who carried sand to build a stone building. Among those Christians there was a certain man named Saturninus; due to his old age, he could not bear the heavy burden assigned to him. Then the blessed deacons Sisinius and Kyriakos began to help this elder and performed not only their own work, but also the work of others; with their lips they constantly glorified and praised God. The guards reported all this to the tribune, and the latter to the emperor. Then the emperor ordered Sisinius to be presented to him, and when the latter appeared to him, he asked him: “I am a sinner,” answered the saint, “I am called Sisinius; I am a servant of the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. -What are these chants that you sing? – Maximian asked. “If you knew the meaning of the chants we sing,” answered the saint, “then you would also know your Creator.” - Who is our Creator if not Hercules 3701 invincible! Holy Deacon Sisinius answered: “It’s an abomination for us not only to name it, but also to hear about it.” “Choose one of two for yourself,” the emperor continued: make a sacrifice to the god Hercules; otherwise I will burn your flesh with fire. “I have long desired to suffer for Christ, my God,” answered Saint Sisinius, “in order to receive the coveted crown of martyrdom.” Then the emperor, angry, handed him over to the governor Laodicea to be tortured. The latter imprisoned the saint in the Mamertine prison in 3702, in which the martyr spent seventeen days. After this period had expired, the regional governor ordered that the holy deacon Sisinius be brought before him again for questioning. From the dungeon the prisoner was first of all brought to the warden Apronian. Looking at him, Apronian noticed that his face shone with a wonderful heavenly light; at the same time he also heard a voice saying: – “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Then Apronian fell in fear and horror at the feet of Saint Sisinius and said: “I adjure you by Christ, whom you profess, to immediately baptize me and make me partaker of your crown.” Water was immediately brought here. Then the holy deacon Sisinius, having performed the catechumen 3703 over Apronian, blessed the water; then he ordered Apronian to enter naked into a vessel filled with water and asked him: – Do you believe in God the Father, Almighty, and in His Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit? “May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit enlighten you,” said Saint Sisinius. Then the saint ordered Apronian to come out of the water. After this, Sisinius brought the newly baptized Apronian to the holy Pope Marcellus. The latter anointed the newly enlightened one with holy myrrh and, having performed the holy Liturgy, taught both Sisinius and Apronian, as well as all the Christians who were there, the most pure Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. At noon of the same day, the regional governor Laodicea ordered that Deacon Sisinius be brought before him for questioning. The warden of the prison, Blessed Apronian, also came with him, the newly enlightened servant of Christ. Approaching Laodicea, Apronian loudly called out to him: – Why does the devil rebel you against the servants of God, teaching you to cause so much suffering to the innocent? Surprised by these words of Apronian, the regional commander said to him: “It seems to me that you too have become a Christian.” “Woe to me, the accursed,” answered Blessed Apronian, “that I have ruined my days in wickedness, until now not knowing the true God.” “Indeed,” exclaimed the regional commander, “you will ruin your days today!” Then he ordered his head to be cut off, saying: “If this one does not die, then many others will die.” After this, the soldiers took Saint Apronian out of the city. Moving away from the city to a distance of two milliaria 3704, the soldiers beheaded the head of Saint Apronian on the Salarian road 3705; This is how the newly enlightened Apronian received the crown of martyrdom. The regional governor ordered the holy deacon Sisinius, and with him the mentioned elder Saturninus, to be imprisoned, saying to them: “If you do not make sacrifices to the gods, then I will destroy you, betraying you to various torments.” While these saints were in prison, many pagans came to them and were fearlessly baptized by them. After forty days, the governor of Laodicea learned about this; having ordered to prepare a place for the judgment seat in the church of the goddess Tellura 3706 and having sat down on it, Laodicea ordered the elder Saturninus and the deacon Sisinius to be brought to him. The prisoners of Christ were brought to the torturer barefoot in iron shackles. “Well,” the regional commander asked them, “have you finally abandoned the vain Christian seduction?” Will you really not agree to worship the gods that our kings worship? “We are sinners,” answered Holy Deacon Sisinius, “we worship our Lord Jesus Christ and will never bow our heads before the devil and the soulless stone.” “Let them bring here the copper tripods on which incense is burned for the gods.” Tripods with hot coals were immediately brought. The torturer began to force the saints to burn incense to the idols. The holy elder Saturninus said to the tormentor: - May the Lord turn the pagan idols to dust. And immediately the copper tripods melted and spread like water. Two soldiers from among those who were here, named Papias and Maurus, seeing this, exclaimed loudly: – Truly the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom Sisinius and Saturninus worship, is the true God. The governor of Laodicea, burning with anger, ordered the holy martyrs, Saturninus and Sisinius, to be hanged in a pillory and beaten without mercy with ropes and gnarled sticks. Being thus tormented, the saints cried out, saying: – We thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for You have made us worthy to be partakers of Your servants who suffered for You. Then the warriors Papias and Maurus, who saw the suffering of the saints, called out a second time, turning to the regional commander: – Why does the devil incite you against the servants of God, teaching you to torment them, the innocent, without mercy? Laodicea, inflamed with anger against these soldiers, ordered them to be stoned on the mouth; having crushed the saints' mouths, he imprisoned them. At the same time, he ordered his servants to burn candles on the sides of the martyrs hanging on the pillory. But they, enduring such great suffering, thanked God with a joyful face. On the same day, the torturer issued a death sentence regarding the saints. Therefore, they were taken from the pillory, taken out of the city along the Numantian road 3707 and beheaded with the sword. The above-mentioned pious man Frason, taking the bodies of the holy martyrs together with Presbyter John, buried them on his land along the Salarian road. The warriors Papias and Maurus, imprisoned, greatly desired to receive holy baptism; Having prayed to the Lord, they left the prison through the open doors, unnoticed by anyone. Then they came to His Holiness Pope Marcellus and received holy baptism from him. After baptism, they again surrendered to the soldiers who were looking for them, and were presented for questioning to the regional commander. Seeing them, the regional commander said: - Now I know that you are Christians. “Yes, we really are Christians,” answered Saint Papias. “Leave the vain Christian deception,” continued Laodicea, “and worship the gods whom our kings worship!” “Let all those who have lost their souls worship them, if they wish to perish forever,” Saint Maurus answered Laodicea. The governor Laodiceus said to this: “If you do not now make sacrifices to our immortal gods, you will lose your souls.” Listen to me and do what I say if you want to stay alive. “Make a sacrifice to them,” answered Saint Papias, “if you want to suffer forever!” After this, the regional governor ordered the saints to be laid on the ground and beaten without mercy with sticks. They, being severely beaten, did not utter anything other than the following words: - Lord Jesus Christ, help Your servants! Then Laodicea ordered the saints to be beaten with tin rods. While they were beaten in this way for a long time, they gave up their souls into the hands of God. Prester John, having taken the bodies of the saints at night, buried them with honor at the tomb of the holy martyrs Sisinius and Saturninus who had suffered earlier (he did this by order of the holy Pope Marcellus). At that time, Emperor Diocletian returned to Rome. The governor of Laodicea told Diocletian and Maximian everything about the holy martyrs, saying how he tortured and killed them without mercy. The emperors were delighted by this news and praised the regional commander for his diligence. Meanwhile, the above-mentioned Saint Cyriacus, ordained a deacon by His Holiness Pope Marcellus, was at that time together with Saint Sisinius in prison; Smaragd and Largius were imprisoned here, as well as other prisoners of Christ. They all did the hard work assigned to them. They were taken out to work during the day, but at night they were again locked in prison. God gave blessed Kyriakos the grace of healing ailments; many came to him and brought their sick, whom Saint Cyriacus healed, after prayer to God; так получали здесь зрение слепые, делались здоровыми расслабленные, изгонялись из людей бесы и по молитвам святого подавалось исцеление болящим от многоразличных недугов. Emperor Diocletian had a daughter named Artemia. By God's permission, she fell into a demonic state and was tormented by an unclean spirit. Having learned about this, Diocletian was very sad, so that that day, due to grief, he did not eat food. When he entered the room of his daughter, who was possessed at that time, the demon called out through the mouth of the girl: “I will not leave here, and no one can drive me out except Deacon Kyriakos.” Then Diocletian ordered to find the deacon Cyriacus, and when he was found in prison and brought to the emperor along with both of his friends, Smaragdus and Largius, the emperor began to beg him to enter his daughter’s room and heal her. Saint Cyriacus, entering the room of the royal daughter, turned to the unclean spirit that was tormenting her with these words: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I command you: get out of this girl.” The demon answered through her lips: “If you want me to leave it, then show me another dwelling into which I could enter.” “Here is my body for you,” answered Saint Cyriacus; – if you can, enter it! “I cannot enter your body,” the demon continued, “for it is closed and sealed from everywhere.” Then Saint Cyriacus said to him: – In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, come out of this girl, so that she may be a pure vessel for serving the Holy Spirit. The unclean spirit then cried out, saying: - Oh Kiriak! If you drive me out of here, I will arrange for you to be sent to Persia 3708. With these words the unclean spirit left. The maiden Artemia, freed from demonic torment, said to the saint: “I adjure you by the God whom you profess: baptize me, for I see in the distance the Lord whom you preach.” Here stood Artemia’s mother, Empress Sirena, who rejoiced with extreme joy: both on the occasion of the healing of her daughter, and because of the manifestation of the power of Christ (for she was a secret Christian). Having prepared the water, the next day they baptized the maiden Artemia in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, secretly from King Diocletian. From that time on, Saint Cyriacus acquired the favor of the Emperor Diocletian, who granted him and his friends, Smaragda and Lagrius, freedom and gave him a house in Rome near his baths, promising him a quiet life. Meanwhile, Empress Sirena taught her daughter to love Christ with all her heart and to invariably fulfill His law. A short time later, a message came to Diocletian from the Persian king; In this letter, the Persian king asked Diocletian to send Deacon Cyriacus to him, because his daughter was possessed, and the demon called out to her through his mouth, saying: “No one can expel me except the Roman deacon Cyriacus.” Then the emperor told his wife, Empress Sirena, to call Cyriacus to her and beg him to go to Persia to the mad princess. When Saint Cyriacus was called to the empress and learned about the message from Persia, he said: “In the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I will go without hesitation!” Kiriak was supplied by the empress with everything necessary, after which he went to Persia along with his friends, Smaragd and Largius. When he came to Persia and was brought to the raging princess, the devil cried out through her mouth: “What, Kiriak, didn’t I force you to take the trouble to come here, as I told you about it earlier?” “I came here,” answered Kiriak, “with the help of my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, to drive you out of here too.” So, unclean spirit, I command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: get out of this girl and do not return to her again. “But you, Kiriak, are tired and you need to rest from the road first,” said the demon. “Thanks to the help of the God who arranges everything, I do not feel tired,” answered Kiriak. “But here I am,” the demon continued, “and I did what I wanted: I promised to force you to come to Persia, and you came.” “You, powerless and damned, cannot do what you want; you can only do what our Creator allows you to do. Then the demon began to torment the girl. Saint Kyriakos, falling prostrate to the ground, began to pray to God with tears. Meanwhile, the demon cried out to the saint: - If you expel me from here, then show me a container into which I could enter. - Oh crazy! You will not find a place for yourself anywhere in God’s creation, for the invincible and omnipotent power of my Lord Jesus Christ will drive you out from everywhere. Then the devil immediately left the girl and, running away, filled the air with cries, saying: - Oh, how terrible for me is the name of the One who drives me out! From that time on, the girl became healthy. Her name was Jovia. She believed in Christ and received holy baptism. Many from the royal house believed in Christ and were baptized, about four hundred people in total. The Persian king offered many gifts to Saint Cyriacus. But he took nothing, being content with only bread and water. Having spent forty-five days in Persia, he left there, returning from the Persian king to the Roman emperor with a letter of gratitude, which Diocletian respectfully accepted. Empress Sirena and her daughter Artemia were very happy about the return of Cyriacus. A little time after this, Diocletian left Rome for the East, and Maximian Herculus went to Milan in 3709, where both left their imperial dignity. Then (another Maximian), nicknamed Galerius, whom Diocletian adopted as his son, and then gave him his daughter, Artemia’s older sister, Valeria, to him, came to Rome and began to persecute and kill Christians. Taking the holy deacon Cyriacus along with the others - for he was angry with him for Artemia, whom Cyriacus had converted to the Christian faith - he put him together with his friends, Smaragd and Largius, in prison; at the same time, the tormentor ordered that Kiriak, naked and chained in iron chains, be led along with him to all those places where he went. He did this to intimidate other Christians. One day, when the tormentor was going to some city, he was met by the holy Pope Marcellus, who loudly said to him: - Why are you killing the servants of God who are praying for your kingdom! Then the tormentor, angry, ordered the saint to be beaten with sticks without mercy and assigned him to the position of overseer of animals. So, holy Pope Marcellus was assigned to feeding the animals and watchmen watched to ensure that he fulfilled his duties without laziness. The emperor handed over Saint Cyriacus and his friends to his governor, Carpasius, with the words: – Convince these magicians, who are seducing the people to Christianity, to make sacrifices; make them do it, at least through torture. Carpasius, having taken the saint and the Christians who were with him, imprisoned them, and then, sitting at his judgment seat in the church of Tellura, called for interrogation the holy martyrs - Deacon Cyriacus, his friends, Smaragdas and Largius, and with them a fourth prisoner named Criscentius, also imprisoned in prison for confessing the name of Christ. Karpasius addressed the Christians with the following words: “Why don’t you listen to the imperial order and don’t make sacrifices to our immortal gods?” Kiriak and his friends answered: – We offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God and our Lord Jesus Christ who lives forever. “Your old age,” said Carpasius to Kyriak, “has made your hair white; but now I will turn your old age into youth. With these words, he ordered the resin to be melted and poured on the saint’s head. The saint cried out, saying: – Glory to Thee, Lord, that You grant us, Your servants, to enter the gates of Your Heavenly Kingdom! The tormentor ordered Criskentian to be hanged naked in a pillory, beaten with ropes and sticks, whittled with iron claws and scorched with fire. In such torment, Saint Criscentian gave up his spirit, all the time sending thanks to God. Then the tormentor ordered his body to be taken and thrown without burial to be devoured by dogs, and he again imprisoned the other holy martyrs. But the aforementioned presbyter John, coming at night and secretly taking the body of the martyr, buried him along with the other martyrs. After four days had passed, the tormentor, calling only Kyriak to himself for interrogation, asked him: – Why do you want to bring down the days of your old age to hell in fierce torment?? Make a sacrifice to the gods and you will live. “I,” answered the saint, “really desire to be martyred for Christ my God; Let those who have not known the true God, their Creator, make sacrifices to your gods. Karpasius, in anger, ordered the saint to be hanged naked in a pillory and to be tortured in the same way as Saint Criscentius, beating with ropes and sticks, sharpening with nails, scorching with fire. Meanwhile, the martyr of Christ, enduring all this valiantly, cried out: – Have mercy on me, a sinner, my Lord Jesus Christ! Glory to You, Son of God! Carpasius, making sure that no amount of torment would force him to make sacrifices, ordered the torment to stop; then he told the emperor everything that concerned Cyriacus and the other martyrs. The emperor ordered that Cyriacus and everyone who was with him in prison be put to death. In the very prison in which Saint Cyriacus stayed with his friends, there were a total of twenty-one Christians of both sexes. Taking them all outside the city, the pagans beheaded them along with Saints Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largius. Presbyter John came to this place at night along with some Christians; Having taken the bodies of the holy martyrs, he buried them in the same place where the bodies of other martyrs were buried. At this very time, the blessed princess Artemia, who was at that time in Rome, was tortured and killed for confessing the name of Christ. She was killed by order of the same wicked tormentor Maximian. The accursed man did not even spare his own blood, for Artemia was the sister of his wife Valeria, and he himself, as adopted by Diocletian, was her sister. After the murder of Saint Cyriacus and the other Christians who were with him in prison, the aforementioned Carpasius begged from the emperor the house of Cyriaco, which was located near the Baths of Diocletian; this house was given by Diocletian to Kyriakos. Entering this house, Carpasius saw in it a most beautiful spring, built by Saint Cyriacus and consecrated by Pope Marcellus; Many pagans who converted to Christianity were baptized in this spring. As a desecration and insult to Christians, Karpasius turned that house into a public bathhouse and a fornication, and often washed himself there, or better yet, became dirty, for while feasting here with his friends, he and his accomplices desecrated themselves with disgusting carnal sins. One day he ordered a feast to be held there for himself and came here in the company of nineteen of his friends to eat, drink, wash and commit fornication. And while they were indulging in their abominations, they all suddenly fell dead, struck by the invisible power of God. All the surrounding residents fell into great fear from this and boarded up that house, for no one dared to enter it. Meanwhile, the wicked emperor Maximian Galerius left Rome for the East; the imperial throne, which at that time belonged to Constantine until 337 (see his life under May 21). At the same time, the Roman clergy, having gathered at night, went to the courtyard in which Saint Marcellus was assigned to feed the cattle, and brought their archpastor out from there. Having reached the Roman throne in a predatory manner, Maxentius, like his predecessors, began to persecute Christians. At this time, two women from a noble senatorial family, named Priscilla and Lucina, lived in Rome. They were both widows and faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom they served with great zeal. These two women had a lot of property with which they helped the saints in all their needs. They built very good tombs on their estates for burying the bodies of the holy martyrs, for countless Christians were then put to death for confessing the name of Christ. Priscilla built a tomb at a distance of three fields from the city along the Salarian road, and Lukina - at a distance of seven fields along the Ostian road 3710. Secretly at night they collected the bodies of the martyrs, thrown by the pagans to be devoured by dogs, beasts and birds, and buried them with honor in their tombs. And so, when Saint Marcellus was led out by his clerics from the courtyard where he was feeding the animals, he went with blessed Lukina to the place where the holy martyr Cyriacus was beheaded with Smaragd and Largius; Having dug their holy relics out of the ground and wrapped them in clean linens with scents, they brought them to the tomb that belonged to Lukina, and honorably placed them in stone coffins. At this time, Blessed Lukina donated many of her estates to the benefit of the Roman Church; She donated her beautiful house, located in the center of the city of Rome, to the believers so that they would turn it into a church. The Pope consecrated this house according to the established church rite and performed liturgies in it, offering bloodless sacrifices to God, praising God day and night. And thus the house of Lukina became the house of God and the cathedral church in Rome. This became known to the wicked emperor. The latter, angry with Lukina, ordered her to be expelled with dishonor, like a great sinner, out of the city, yet he ordered her property to be given up for plunder. He also made attempts to persuade Pope Marcellus to his wickedness, but was not at all successful in this. Having learned that Saint Marcellus had been condemned to the work of caring for livestock by his predecessor Maximian, he made the same determination regarding the saint. Wanting to dishonor not only the pope, but also the church, he turned the beautiful house of Lukinin, consecrated for the church, into a barnyard and ordered many cattle to be kept there. He assigned the holy Pope Marcellus all the days of his life until his death, while in custody, to look after the cattle in this house. So, this most holy shepherd and leader of human souls performed the work of caring for livestock for nine months; the great servant of God, like a certain captive servant, was the subject of reproach by wicked idolaters. He was constantly busy with work, so that he had absolutely no rest or peace and experienced a great lack of the most necessary things; he had neither sufficient food nor clothing, for the guards did not allow anyone to come to him and bring anything for him. His clothing consisted of nothing but a thorny hair shirt on his body. Due to such labor, suffering, deprivation of the most necessary things, as well as because of the bestial stench, Saint Marcellus became very weak in body, fell ill and gave up his suffering soul into the hands of God 3711. The same presbyter John, taking his body at night, took it to the tomb of Priscillina and, calling the clergy, gave him an honest burial here. This is how the most holy Roman Pope Marcellus ended his life, initially sending his many children to God along the path of martyrdom, and then after them he himself went to appear with the holy hierarchs at the throne of the Great Bishop, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom glory is given now and to endless ages. Amen. Emperor Diocletian ruled the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 284 to 305. Maximian Herculus ruled the western half of the Roman Empire from 284 to 305. Maximian Galerius ruled the East from 305 to 311. Maxentius ruled the West from 305 to 312. Maximian was in charge of Africa, Spain and Italy. It should be noted that the baths of the ancient pagan Romans were not only baths, but also fornication. In order to constrain and weaken the Israelites, the Egyptian Pharaoh assigned them hard work. In a relatively short time (from the death of Joseph to the exit from (Egypt) the Israelites built three cities for the Epiptians - Pithom, Raamses and Heliopolis (Ex. 1: 1-14). Hercules or Heracles is a national ancient Greek hero. According to the legend of Greek mythology, Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, the wife of the Tyrian king Amphitryon. Hercules acquired great physical strength, which is why he was considered the patron god of gymnasts and gladiators. The Mamertine prison was located in the northern part of the city of Rome. It was intended mainly for state criminals, which included Christians. According to legend, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned in this prison. This dungeon has been preserved in a restored (restored) form to this day, and the section of the dungeon where the Apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned, as a sacred place, is guarded by Catholics with special attention. The announcement is an oral instruction in the truths of the Orthodox faith, taught in the ancient Church to everyone who wanted to begin the sacrament of baptism. Having the right to enter the church to listen to the Holy Scriptures and teachings, and even to be present at the first and second parts of the liturgy (proskomedia and the “liturgy of the catechumens”), those announced before the onset of the third, most important part of the liturgy (“the liturgy of the faithful”) had to immediately leave the church, which was announced by the deacon with an exclamation, and has hitherto been preserved in the Orthodox Church during the celebration of the liturgy. The timing of the announcement was not the same; many remained public throughout their lives. If necessary, the period of announcement was reduced to several days or even several hours (as in this case). – The church rite of announcement is still performed in the Orthodox Church; it consists of reading prayers over those approaching baptism and casting a spell against the devil; at the same time, the one approaching baptism renounces Satan, is united to Christ and confesses his faith by reading the Creed (this is done during the baptism of infants by recipients). Milliary is a Roman mile or, more precisely, a Roman mile stone, because at the end of each milliary there was a stone pillar in the form of a sign. A milliary was equal to 8 stadia (a stage - 88 fathoms), which would be approximately 1.5 of our versts. Mile stones were scattered throughout Italy; they were usually inscribed with the name of the builder or emperor under whom they were built. The first mile stone, from which all the other stones originated and at which all the roads were connected, was located at the church of Saturn. During excavations in Rome, the remains of this stone were found. Salaria is one of the largest roads of ancient Rome. It walked along the Tiber River to Cur, passed through Latium, Sabinia, etc. to Ardia. The name of this road is explained by the fact that the Sobinians transported salt (vai) along it from the seashore to their country. Tellura or Gaia is the Greco-Roman goddess of earth and fertility. The Numantine Road ran from Rome towards the city of Numantia. The devil threatens Saint Cyriacus with a journey to Persia because in those days travel in general was burdensome due to the lack of proper means of communication. Mediolan (now Milan) is the most significant city in northern Italy, in the region of Lombardy; founded in ancient times, several centuries before Christ. In the history of the Christian Church, Mediolan is known as the place of archpastoral activity of Archbishop Ambrose (from 374 to 397), who showed great zeal in the fight against the Arian heresy (his memory is celebrated by the Holy Church on December 7). The Ostian road led to Ostia, the harbor of the city of Rome, built at the mouth of the Tiber River. The remains of this harbor are still visible; Due to the sedimentation of coastal sand, it is removed from the coast at a distance of an hour's journey. The death of the holy hieromartyr Marcellus, Pope of Rome, followed in 310. He ruled the Roman Church for five years and six months (from 304 to 310). Other martyrs and martyrs mentioned in the life of St. Pope Marcellus suffered somewhat earlier, in 305 and 306. You might be interested in: