MARCIANUS and NICANDER, saints, martyrs. — The information concerning them is extremely intricate. They are commemorated on different days and in different places, alone or together with others, as martyrs of Tomi and Durostorum in Moesia, of Thmuis in Egypt, and of Venafro and Atina in Italy.
Without doubt, the information regarding Italy was derived from the East; it is more difficult to choose between Moesia and Egypt. Most probably they belong to a single group of martyrs, specifically those of Moesia. In favor of this opinion are the Syriac Breviary, used by the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, which commemorates them on June 5 and 10, and the *Passio* (BHL, 6870-72), which is linked to a group of ancient, simple, and authentic writings about martyrs of the Danubian regions. According to this *Passio*, M. and N. were soldiers; during the persecution of Diocletian they were brought before the governor Maximus and, despite every exhortation and threat, remained steadfast in the faith, even refusing the military donative that was due to them. For this reason, they were condemned and beheaded.
AGOSTINO AMORE