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THE persecution increased in violence, and led to deeds of blood.
Martyrius and Marcian were among those who were slain. They had
lived in Paul's house, and were delivered up by Macedonius to the
governor, as having been guilty of the murder of Hermogenes, and of
exciting the former sedition against him. Martyrius was a subdeacon,
and Marcian a singer and a reader of Holy Scripture. Their tomb is
famous, and is situated before the walls of Constantinople, as a
memorial of the martyrs; it is placed in a house of prayer, which was
commenced by John and completed by Sisinnius; these both afterwards
presided over the church of Constantinople. For they who had been
unworthily adjudged to have no part in the honors of martyrdom, were
honored by God, because the very place where those conducted to death
had been decapitated, and which previously was not approached on
account of ghosts, was now purified, and those who were under the
influence of demons were released from the disease, and many other
notable miracles were wrought at the tomb. These are the particulars
which should be stated concerning Martyrius and Marcian. If what I
have related appears to be scarcely credible, it is easy to apply for
further information to those who are more accurately acquainted with the
circumstances; and perhaps far more wonderful things are related
concerning them than those which I have detailed.
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