Marion, Elie, a prophet of the Cevennes, was boni in 1678 at Barre. Being destined for the bar by his family, he studied for that profession till October, 1701, when he became possessed with the religious fanaticism of the Camisards, and returned to his native country in order to take part in the movement already began there. He shortly after announced himself a prophet. He joined a troop of Camisards and became their leader, but soon capitulated to marshal Villars (Nov. 1704), and was expelled from the kingdom. After a brief stay in Geneva and Lausanne, he yielded to the solicitations of Flottard, and returned to France with more Camisards. Not succeeding in the enterprise which he meditated, he obtained a new capitulation, and returned to (icneva in August, 1705. The following year he went to Eng- land. A great number of refugees hastened part way to meet him. The sensation which they produced was profound, and their feigned inspiration was the cause of a lively controversy. See Frp:nch Prophets. Marion having publicly denounced both eiiiscnpacy and royal- ty, the government obliged him to leave luigland. He then went to Germany, where he found a few atihcrents. His works are Avertissements jJrophetiques d'Elie Mari- on, on discours pi-ononces par sa bouche, sous V inspira- tion du Saint-Esprit et fidelement regvs dans le temps qu'ilparlait (Lond. 1707, 8vo) -.—Cri d'A laime, ou aver- tissement aux nations qui sortent de Babylone (London, 1712, 8vo) : — Quand rous aurez saccage, vous serez sac- cages (Lond. 1714, 8vo) -.—Plan de la justice de Dieu sur la terre dans ces demiers jours (Lond. 1714, 8vo). Let- ters signed by Allut, Marion, Fatio and Ponrtales, trans- lated into Lfitin, were published by Fatio (1714, 8vo). See Iloefer, Xour. Biog. Gener. vol. xxxiii, 791.
Maris, a name of frequent occurrence among the Orientals, and especially in Syria and Persia. 1. The later Nestorians circulated a legend concerning a person of this name, whom they claimed to have been one of the seventy-two discii)les of Christ, a disciple of Thad- dajus, colaborer with Thomas, and founder and first bish- op of the Church at Scleucia-Ctesiphon. This legend is
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connected with that of Abgarus (q. v.), and deserves no credit. The Clialdsean Christians class him with their principal saints as the Apostle of Mesopotamia, and as- cribe to him the composition of their liturgy in part. 2. A second Maris, better known in the AV'est, is noted sole- ly because to him is addressed the letter of Ibas, presi- dent of the theological school at Edessa, which is pre- served in Mansi (t. ix, col. 2118-300), among the acts of the fifth oecumenical council held at Constantinople in 553, and which tlie Nestorians afterwards regarded as a kind of confession of faith. 3. Another Maris was sur- named Bar-Tobi. He became patriarch of the Persian Nestorians in 987, and is remarkable as the first patri- arch who derived his authority from the caliphs. 4. A fourth of this name, distinguished by the name of Salo- mon's son, lived in the r2th century, and wrote a history in Arabic of the Nestorian patriarchs, of which Asse- mani {JSibliotheca Orient, iii, 55-1 sq., 581 sq.) furnishes an epitome. 5. Finally, Theodoret (q. v.) narrates an anecdote of still another Maris, which is noteworthy chiefly because of the light which it throws on the views of that- bishop, and of the use which Romanists have made of it. Maris was a hermit, who had long desired to see " the most sacred, mysterious sacrifice" offered, and Theodoret joyfully complied with his wish. The sacred vessels were taken to his retreat, the hands of the deacons served as an altar, "and thus," says the bishop, " I offered the mysterious, divine, and saving sacrifice" in his presence. Romish writers find in these words of the distinguished father and historian of the 5th century an argument in favor of the Mass. See Theodoret, Relif/iosa historia, c. 2 ; Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lex. xii, 7G9. See also Nestouius. (G. M.)
Mar'isa (Mnpto-n), the Grascized form (2 Mace, xii, 35) of Makesiiah (q. v.).
Marius Aventicus, a Swiss prelate, was born of a noble French family of Autun, near the middle of the Gth century. From childhood he was destined for the Church, and his literary remains furnish evidence that he received a careful training. He was made bishop of Aventicum, now Avenches, in the canton Waadt, in 573, or, as some state, in 580. The times were tumultuous, the population depleted, the country impoverished. In these circumstances he distinguished himself by a praise- worthy frugality, and a devotion to agricidtural pur- suits that furnished the means for a lavish liberality. He was bounteous to the poor, and generous to the Church. In honor of Mary ^foruK-of, he rebuilt the town of Payerne (Paterniacum) on his own lands, and dedicated its church to her; he also donated to this church many of his adjoining lands, on condition, how- ever, that the chapter of Lausanne should derive its tithes from Payerne and two neighboring towns. In the specific work of the episcopal office he was tireless — a model ecclesiastic for the times. Serving his God with reverence and in humility, he was an impartial judge, a protector of the oppressed, and a devoted shep- herd to his flock. Towards the close of his life he translated his see to Lausanne, which from that time gave its name to the diocese. The only additional fact connected with his life that has come to our knowledge is that he was present at the Synod of Macon in 585, which was convened by Guntram, a son of Chlotar, to attempt the purification of the Church in his dominions by executing justice on unworthy members of the cler- gy. jMarius is supposed to have died in 503, and was commemorated at first on the 31st of December, but now on the 4th of February. His Annals, a continua- tion of the work of Prosper Aquit., are the only writings of his that have reached our time which may justly be ascribed to him. They were published at Paris, in the collections of Du Chcsne and Dom Bouquet; at Venice, in the Bihliotkeca refer, patrum ; and, the best manual, by Rickly, in the Memoires et documens publies par la societi dliistoire de la Suisse Romande, torn. xiii. See Zurlauben, Memoire sur Marius, in the Mem. de VA cad.