MARCIANO and NICANDRO, 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.
There is no doubt that the information concerning Italy was borrowed from the East; more difficult is the choice between Moesia and Egypt. Most probably, they constitute a single group of martyrs, specifically of Moesia. Supporting this opinion are the Syriac Breviary, used by the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, which commemorates them on 5 and 10 June, and the Passio (BHL, 6870-72), which is connected with a group of ancient, simple, and authentic writings concerning 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 bounty to which they were entitled. They were therefore condemned and beheaded.