Marinus Chooses the Gospels

In their time, when the churches everywhere were at peace, Marinus at Caesarea in Palestine, a man honored with military rank and distinguished by family and wealth, was beheaded for his witness to Christ, for the following reason. [a] The vine-branch is a mark of honor among the Romans, and those who receive it, they say, become centurions. A post fell vacant, and the order of rank called Marinus to this promotion. He was just about to receive the honor when another man came forward before the tribunal and accused him: according to the ancient laws, he said, Marinus could not share in a Roman rank, since he was a Christian and did not sacrifice to the emperors, and the post fell to himself instead. [c] The judge, whose name was Achaeus, was stirred by this. He first asked what Marinus believed, and when he saw him persistently confessing that he was a Christian, he gave him three hours’ time to think it over. [d]

When he was outside the court, Theotecnus, the bishop there, came up and drew him aside in conversation. He took him by the hand and led him into the church. Standing him inside, close to the sanctuary, he drew back his military cloak a little and pointed to the sword hanging at his side. At the same moment he brought the book of the divine Gospels and set it before him opposite the sword, and told him to choose which of the two he wanted. Without hesitating he stretched out his right hand and took the divine Scripture. “Hold fast, then, Theotecnus says to him, hold fast to God. Strengthened by him, may you obtain what you have chosen. Go in peace.” [e] As soon as he came back from there, a herald was calling him before the court, for the appointed time had already run out. He stood before the judge, showed even greater zeal for the faith, and at once, just as he was, he was led away to death and made perfect.