25/04/2025
✝️Saint of the day, April 25–
SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST,
(12 AD–25 April 68 AD ), Martyr
His original name is John and his surname was Mark born at Cyrene, Libya, Pentapolis of North Africa.
St. Mark is associated with the 'winged lion symbol'. According to ancient legend, while taking refuge from a storm in the city of Venice, he was visited in a dream by an angel in the form of a 'winged lion'. He is traditionally ascribed as the author of the Gospel of St. Mark, considered to have been the oldest and the shortest of the four Gospels. The Gospel of St. Mark gives a general perspective about Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His teachings and commands and emphasizes Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's rejection by humanity while being God's triumphant envoy. St. Mark's Gospel introduces Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the Son of God, (Mark 1: 1) a man of action and authority, and a gradual manifestation of a crucified Messiah, written in Greek for Gentile converts in Rome, after the death of Peter and Paul sometime between 60 and 70 A.D. Tradition tells us that St. Mark was requested by the Romans to set down the teachings of Saint Peter. This seems to be confirmed by the position that Saint Peter has in St. Mark's gospel. In this way, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's life is seen through the eyes of the Prince of the Apostles. Saint Peter is St. Mark's Gospel's main source, others being the Church in Jerusalem (Jewish roots), and the Church at Antioch (largely gentile).
Tradition identifies St. Mark the Evangelist with John Mark in Acts 12: 12 and John Mark as the cousin of Barnabas explicitly mentioned by St. Paul in Colossians 4:10 and the same Mark in Philemon 1: 24.
When Saint Peter was miraculously saved from prison from the hands of Herod Agrippa by an angel, (Acts 12: 6-11) he went to the home of Mark's mother. It is written, "When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer." (Acts 12: 12) According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Saint Peter then travelled to different places and then back to Rome, and "somewhere along the way, encountered Mark and took him as a travel companion and interpreter. Mark the Evangelist wrote down the sermons of Peter, thus composing the Gospel according to Mark." (Eccl. Hist. 15-16) Saint Peter later addressed Mark as my son, "The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son." (1 Peter 5: 13)
The next time Mark is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles is in Acts 12: 25. "After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark." Then, seemingly a disagreement arose between Barnabas and Paul concerning John Mark in Acts 15: 36-39. Paul and Barnabas took him along on the first missionary journey, but for some reason Mark returned alone to Jerusalem. It is evident, from Paul's refusal to let Mark accompany him on the second journey despite Barnabas's insistence, that Mark had displeased Paul. "After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, 'Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord.' Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work. So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus."
However, Paul's letters suggest that the trouble did not last long. Mark became close to Paul and was later sent by him to Colossae. It is written, "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him)." (Colossians 4: 10) Paul mentioned Mark to Philemon, "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as well as Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers." (Philemon 1: 23-24) And to Timothy, "Try to join me soon, Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry." (2 Timothy 4: 9, 11)
According to Coptic tradition, Mark returned to Pentapolis later in life, and in 49 AD, about 19 years after the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Mark travelled to Alexandria and founded the Church of Alexandria, one of the most important episcopal sees of early Christianity. He became the first bishop of Alexandria and he is honored as the founder of Christianity in Africa. According to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. 2.24.1), Mark was succeeded by Annianus as the bishop of Alexandria in the eighth year of Nero (62/63), probably, but not definitely, due to his coming death. Later Coptic tradition says that he was martyred on April 25, 68 AD (aged 62–63) in Alexandria, Egypt. It is said that the pagans of the city resented his efforts to turn the Alexandrians away from the worship of their traditional gods. They placed a rope around his neck, tied him to a horse's tail and dragged him through the streets of Alexandria's district of Bokalia for two days until his body was torn to pieces.
In 828, relics believed to be the body of Saint Mark were stolen from Alexandria (at the time controlled by the Abbasid Caliphate) by two Venetian merchants with the help of two Greek monks and taken to Venice. A mosaic in St. Mark's Basilica depicts sailors covering the relics with a layer of pork and cabbage leaves. Since Muslims are not permitted to eat pork, this was done to prevent the guards from inspecting the ship's cargo too closely.
In 1063, during the construction of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Saint Mark's relics could not be found. However, according to tradition, in 1094, the saint himself revealed the location of his remains by extending an arm from a pillar. The newfound remains were placed in a sarcophagus in the basilica.
Coptic Christians believe that the head of Saint Mark remains in a church named after him in Alexandria, and parts of his relics are in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo. Venice, famous for the Piazza San Marco, claims Saint Mark as its patron saint. Saint Mark's Basilica is his Major shrine, believed to contain the rest of his relics.
St. Mark was not one of the 12 apostles, like another Gospel writer St. Luke. It cannot be ascertained whether he knew Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ personally. Some scholars feel that identifying Mark the Evangelist with John Mark, the evangelist is speaking of himself as the man who carried water to the house where the Last Supper took place (Mark 14:13), or as the young man who ran away naked when Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was arrested (Mark 14:46-52). "He sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him." (Mark 14:13) Describing the arrest of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Gethsemane: "Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked." (Mark 14: 51 - 52)
Saint Mark the Evangelist's attributes are the lion in the desert; he can be depicted as a bishop on a throne decorated with lions; as a man helping Venetian sailors. He is often depicted holding a book with pax tibi Marce written on it or holding a palm and book. Other depictions of Mark show him as a man with a book or scroll, accompanied by a winged lion. The lion derives from Mark's description of John the Baptist as a "voice of one crying out in the desert" (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel's vision of four winged creatures to the evangelists. The lion might also be associated with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's Resurrection because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, thus a comparison with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the tomb, and Christ as king. Saint Mark the Evangelist may be depicted as a man with a halter around his neck and as rescuing Christian slaves from Saracens.
St. Mark is venerated in all Christian churches that venerate saints. His patronages include Barristers, Venice, Egypt, Mainar.✝️
St. Mark the Evangelist, pray for us.🙏
