A fourth-century layman of Tomis, on the Black Sea coast of present-day Romania, martyred with his parents, Saints Marcellinus and Mannea.

Saint Serapion of Constanța was a layman of Tomis, on the Black Sea coast of present-day Romania, martyred in the fourth century. Tradition identifies him as the son of Saint Marcellinus and Saint Mannea, suggesting a family martyrdom rooted in a household already committed to the Christian faith.

Quick Facts

• Died: 4th century (Constanța, Romania)
• Venerated as: Layman and martyr
• Son of Saint Marcellinus and Saint Mannea

Who Was Saint Serapion of Constanța?

Saint Serapion was a layman of Tomis, present-day Constanța on the Black Sea coast of Romania, martyred in the fourth century. Tradition names his parents as Saint Marcellinus and Saint Mannea, suggesting his martyrdom took place within a family already known for its Christian commitment.

Historical Setting

Tomis was a significant Roman city on the western Black Sea coast and, notably, the see of a Christian bishopric that would later produce the theologian and biblical scholar John Cassian in the following generation. Fourth-century persecution in this frontier province, under Licinius or during earlier phases of Diocletian’s persecution, still touched families here even as toleration was spreading elsewhere in the empire.

Why the Church Remembers Saint Serapion of Constanța

Serapion is remembered as part of a family martyrdom, dying alongside or in connection with his parents, a pattern that underscores how deeply Christian conviction could run through an entire household in this period, cutting across generations rather than affecting individuals alone.

Canonization and Feast Day

No formal canonization process for Serapion is recorded, as expected for a martyr of this era. His veneration is ancient and local, tied to the Christian memory of Tomis on the Black Sea coast.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

Serapion’s martyrdom as the son of two other named saints is a reminder of how faith and its costs can be passed through a family, generation to generation. His witness invites parents and children alike to consider what convictions they are handing on to one another.

A Prayer to Saint Serapion of Constanța

Saint Serapion, son of Marcellinus and Mannea, who shared your family’s faith even to death, watch over Christian families today as they try to hand on belief from one generation to the next. Strengthen the bonds of faith within every household.

Sources

• Roman Martyrology
• Butler’s Lives of the Saints
• New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
• Acta Sanctorum