MARCELLO, bishop of APAMEA, saint and martyr. - According to Eastern sources, born in Cyprus of a good family, died in 389. He embarked upon a career in the magistracy, then, summoned to Apamea by Bishop Giovanni, succeeded him after 381.
During the few years of his episcopate, he laboured with great zeal to overthrow idolatry and destroy temples. In one of these actions, in the village of Auloni near Apamea, having remained somewhat apart from the soldiers engaged in demolishing a temple, he was surprised by a group of pagans who killed him. Later the perpetrators of the crime were discovered, but a provincial Synod forbade their punishment, as the sons of M. demanded, since they were to consider themselves honoured to be the sons of a martyr. He is venerated among Greeks and Latins on 14 Aug.