Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/23

11 ST. MARGARET 11 Martia), mm. in snndry places and on varions days. Calendars. St. Marcia (18), Rusticula. St. Marcia (19), M. with her brother St. Felioitatns, in the early days of Christianity (probably 10th century). Their relics set in pearls and jewels are preserved in the Capuchin monastery on the Hradschin at Prague. Schultz, Guide to Prague. St. Marcia-Matidia, Martia. St Marciana (l) or Martiniana. (See Irene (4).) St. Marciana (2). (See Sila.) St. Marciana (H), Jan. 9, July 12, y. M. e. 300, in Mauritania. Patron of Tortosa in Spain; sometimes called Marciana of Toledo; she was bom at Rusuccar. Despising the advantages of rank and fortune, she betook herself to OsBsarea, 40 leagues west of Algiers, and there served an apprenticeship to martyrdom in fasts and austerities of all kinds. At last, during the reign of Diocletian, such was her desire to en- counter the enemies of the faith, that she went into the forum and struck off the head of a statue of Diana. She was immediately seized and met the fate she courted, being insulted, beaten with clubs and then killed by a wild bull and a leopard in the amphitheatre. Her AcU are short and simple but are not quite above suspicion. B.M. AA.SS. Butler. Baillet. St Marciana (4). (SeeSvBAHNA(io),) SS. Marciana (6, 6, 7), MM. in Bome, Pontus, and Africa respectively. St. Marciana (8) of Albi, Nov. 2, 5, Y. M. supposed 8th century. She was of noble birth, a nun at Tarsia, veiled by Polymius, bishop of Albi. It is uncertain whether she was murdered by barbarians, or whether her habitual austerities amounted to martyrdom. Martin. Cfynecseum, Migne. St. Marcina (l) or Marina, June 8, M. at Nicomedia. AA,SS. St Marcina (2) or Magrina, June 24, sister of Pscinna. St. Marcionilla or Marcianilla, Jan- 9, + 309. Wife of Marcian, governor of Antioch. Her son Celsus was one of many boys instructed in the Christian faith by St. Julian. In the persecution of Diocletian, Celsus was imprisoned, and begged to see his mother. She was sent to him and given three days in which to convert him. He, however, converted her. St. Julian and other Christian priests taught her. St. Antony baptized her. R,M. AA.SS. Butler. St. Marciosa, one of the martyrs of Lyons, who died in prison. (See Blandina.) St. Mardia, companion of Ursula. St. Mare, July 20, V. M. in the diocese of Lectoure, where the little town of Mare is called by her name. Martin. St. Marella, Nirilla. St. Mareme, Medrysyme. St. Marewinna, Merwin. St. Marga or Marcia, April 6, M. at Alexandria. AA.SS, St. Margaret (l) or Grita, July 20, V. M. 276 or 306, is called Marina in the Coptic Church and by Metaphrastes ; on an old bell at Pittington near Durham are the words ** Sancta Marineta.** She is represented with a dragon and some- times carrying a banner. Margaret (1), Barbara (l), Catherine (1), and EuPHEMiA (2) are the four great patron- esses of the Eastern Church. Margaret is patron of women called Marjory, Marjoleine, etc.; of women pregnant or in labour; against barrenness; of Cremona, Corneto, Procida, Montefia- scone. King's Lynn, and Paris. According to the legend she was the daughter of Theodosius, a heathen priest of Antioch, and was nursed and brought up by a Christian woman. When Theo- dosius heard that the nurse had taught his daughter to be a Christian he said ho would not acknowledge her for his child ; he thought the nurse being poor would soon be tired of maintainiog the girl, and thus he would punish them both. The good woman's only wealth consisted of a few sheep, and these the now portionless maiden had to tend. By-and-bye it happened that Olybrius, prefect of Asia, on his way to Antioch to persecute the Christians, passed through the place where Margaret lived with her nurse, and seeing a beautiful young shepherdess in the field, inquired