Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea

Life

He was born on Cyprus of wealthy and distinguished parents. He was highly educated, entered into marriage, and had children. When his wife died, he withdrew to the monastic life in Syria, leaving his children to Providence. He became renowned for his mercifulness, meekness, and spiritual learning, on account of which the people of Apamea elected him as their bishop. As bishop, he zealously labored at converting pagans to the Christian faith. When a certain idolatrous temple burned down, the idolaters seized Marcellus and, ostensibly holding him responsible for that fire, burned him in the flames, around the year 389. Especially instructive from the life of Saint Marcellus is also the fact that the blessing of water and the use of holy water are mentioned in connection with him.