The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Marinus of Caesarea
d. c. 262 · Roman soldier · Martyr of Caesarea · Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Marinus of Caesarea was
A soldier of rank at Caesarea about to be promoted to centurion, whose Christianity was denounced by a rival for the post. Given three hours by the judge to decide, he was met at the church door by bishop Theotecnus, who led him inside, showed him the Gospel-book and his own sword, and bade him choose; Marinus reached for the Gospel and went to his death. A Roman senator, Astyrius, is said to have carried away and buried the body on his own shoulders. His martyrdom, in the peace of Gallienus, shows the peril that still shadowed Christians in the army.
Eusebius VII.15 only.
Also listed in martyrs and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Marinus die?
Marinus of Caesarea is dated d. c. 262 in the archive, which places Marinus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Marinus?
Marinus of Caesarea is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Marinus from?
The archive associates Marinus of Caesarea with Caesarea Maritima.
Who were Marinus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Marinus of Caesarea to 2 other figures, including Emperor Gallienus and Theotecnus of Caesarea. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.15
c. AD 325Theotecnus… taking him by the hand led him into the church, and placing him close to the altar, showed him the sword that he wore and the book of the divine Gospels, and bade him choose which he would.Eusebius of Caesarea · VII.15 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Marinus.