Marcellus Akimetes, St.

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MARCELLUS AKIMETES, ST.

Abbot of the acoemetic monastery of Eirenaion on the Bosporus; d. c. 469. Marcellus, who had been born of rich parents, probably at Apamea, studied at Antioch and copied manuscripts at Ephesus before joining the Akoimeti monks (literally, the "insomniacs" or "watchers," hence of perpetual adoration), who sang the Divine Office in relays day and night. Marcellus was one of the score of archimandrites who, undaunted by Emperor Theodosius II and Eutychian bishops, signed the condemnation of eutyches at a synod at Constantinople in 448. Before the Council of chalcedon (451), he petitioned Emperor marcian against Eutyches. Two letters to him from Theodoret of Cyr (Epist. 141, 142) congratulate him, apparently on his stand for orthodoxy in the troubles following the Robber Council of ephesus (449). At Chalcedon, during the session of October 17, he gave evidence against the Eutychian abbots.

Feast: Dec. 29.

Bibliography: j. d. mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio. (FlorenceVenice 175798) 6:753; 7:61, 76. j. pargoire, Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie. (Paris 190753) 1.1:315318; Échos d'Orient 2 (189899) 304308, 365372.

[a. a. stephenson]

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Marcellus Akimetes, St.

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