Martyr Marcian, Reader of Constantinople

Martyr Marcian served as reader and notary (secretary) to St. Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople. When the Arian party secured the exile and secret murder of St. Paul, installing the Arian-leaning Macedonius in his place, Marcian, together with the subdeacon Martyrius, also a notary to the patriarch, remained firmly loyal to Nicene Orthodoxy.

The eparch Philip had both tortured and ordered them beheaded by the sword. The faithful secretly buried their remains at the Melampodion Gate of Constantinople. St. John Chrysostom later built a church over their relics; Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer composed a church service for them. They are venerated as patrons of notaries and church scribes.

NOTE ON IDENTITY: the designation "reader" in the entry's original title correctly distinguishes this martyr from a different, much better-known saint — St. Marcian, Presbyter and Oeconomos of Constantinople (5th century, builder of the churches of St. Anastasia and St. Irene, feast January 10), who is not the same person.

The feast is kept on October 25/November 7.

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the previously empty feast_days field has been filled with the correct date; the bio has been developed from the raw pravicon.com caption, with the companion's identity clarified — "St. Martie" in the fresco has been identified with the subdeacon Martyrius.