Marchetti, Francois, an eminent French writer and archreoiogist, was born at Marseilles about the open- ing of the 17th century; was educated at a coUege of the "Fathers of the Oratory," entered their order in 1630, and became one of the ablest members. He died at his native place in 1688. Of his works the follow- ing are of particular interest to us: Parajyhrase siir les Epitres de Saint Pierre (1639), and Truite sur la Jfesse avec rexpiication de ses ceremonies.
Marchetti, Giovanni, an Italian ecclesiastic of note, was born at Empoli, in Tuscany, in 1753, of hum- ble parentage. After struggling for years to secure the advantages of a thorough education, he entered the priesthood in 1777. Later he took up the pen in de- fence of the rights of the Roman see. His works, which made him known as a brilliant writer and a learned stu- dent, attracted the attention of pope Pius VI, who ac- corded him a pension and invested him with different offices. In 1798, after Rome had been proclaimed a republic, he was banished. In 1799 he was conducted to F'lorence, where lie endured imprisonment for one month. On his return to Rome (1800) he opened an academy of theology. ^Vhen tlie excommunication of the emperor Napoleon by Pius VII became known (1809), Marchetti and cardinal Mattel, accused of aiding the pope in this violent part, were imprisoned in the castle of St. Angelo. Some time after Marchetti obtained per- mission to go to his native town. He returned to Rome in 1814 ; in 1822 was appointed vicar of Rimini ; in 1826 became secretary of the Assembly of Bishops, and died Nov. 15, 1829. Among his works, which have been translated into many languages, we find Sar/r/io critico sopra la Storia Ecclesiastica di Fleury (Rome, 1780, 12mo) : — Critica della Storia Ecclesiastica e de' discorsi di Fleury (Bologne, 1782, 2 vols. r2mo) : — Esceritazioni Ciprianiche circa il battesimo deyli eretici (Rome, 1787, 8vo) : — Del concilio di Sardica (Rome, 1785. 8vo) : — II Christianesimo dimonstrahile sopra i suoi libri (Rome, 1795, 8vo) : — Strattenimenti difamiylia sulla storia della 7-eliyione con le sue pi-ove (Rome, 1800, 2 vols. 8vo) : — La Providenza (Rome, 1797, 12mo) -.^Metamorfosi ver-
MARCION
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MARCION
dufe da Basilide Teremita sul terminare del secolo xviil (Florence, 1799, 8vo) : — II si ed il no, parallelo delle dot- trine e regole ecclesiastiche (Rome, 180], 8vo) : — Lezioni sacre daW ingresso del popolo di Dio in Cananea fino alia sckiavitu di Babikmia (Home, 1803-8, 12 vols. 8vo) : — Delia Chiesa quanta alto stato politico della cifta (Rome, 1817-18, 3 vols. 8vo) : — La vita razionale deW uomo (Rome, 1828,8vo), He also contributed many ar- ticles to the Giornale Ecclesiastico (Rome) from 1788 to 1798. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, xxxiii, 491.
Marcion (Mnp/ci'wj'), founder of the sect of Mar- cionites, flourished near the middle of the 2d century. He was a native of Sinope. According to TertuUian, he was a pilot. Some critics have expressed their doubts that so learned a man should have followed such a trade, but nothing proves Marcion having been a very learned man. He seems to have at first connected him- self with the Stoics, and, although his father was a bishop (probably of Sinope), he long inquired into the merits of Christianity before becoming a convert to it. He either retained some of his former views, or else in- dulged in new speculative views which caused him to be excommunicated by his own father. Epiphanius, who states that Marcion was driven out of the Church for having seduced a young girl (not credited anj' lon- ger by modern scholars, as Beausobre and Neander), af- firms that he afterwards endeavored to regain admission into it by affecting to be deeply penitent, but his father refused to admit him again. Marcion now went to Rome, where he arrived, according to Tillemont, in 142, or, according to Lipsius {Zeitschrift JVir inssenschaftl. Theologie, 1847, p. 77), in 143 or 144, but, more probably, in 138, as St. Justin mentions his residence in Rome in his Apology, written in 139. According to St. Epipha- nius, !Marcion's first step upon reaching Rome was to ask readmission into the Church, but he was refused. The same writer further states that Marcion aimed to succeed pope Hyginus, who had just died, and that his regret at having failed was the cause of his accepting Gnosticism. These Oriental doctrines were then preached at Rome by a Syrian named Cerdon. Marcion joined him, and ]iroclaimed his intention of creating an abiding schism in the Christian Church. Quite different is the statement of Epiphanius. Marcion, says he, was at first received into the Church at Rome, and professed at first orthodox views, but being of a specidative turn of mind, his pry- ing, theorising intellect constantly led him into opinions and practices too hostile to the opinions and practices of the Church to escape opposition, and he was there- fore constantly involved in controversies, in which he often espoused heretical views. After repeated warn- ings, he was finally cut off from communion with the Church, " in perpetuum discidium relegatus." He con- tinued to teach, still hoping to become reconciled with the Church. Finally he was offered reconciliation on the condition of returning with all his followers, but died "A-hile endeavoring to do so. His disciples were then but iaw, and did not hold all the doctrines after- wards maintained by the Marcionites, who flourished as a sect, in spite of untold persecution, until the Gth cen- tury, particidarly in Egypt, ralestine, and Syria. The most distinguished among his disciples and followers were Apelles, Lucanus, Hasilus, 151astus, and Potitus.