Icon with the Holy Apostle Evangelist Mark - embroidered, framed, 15x18cm
The Evangelist Mark was a faithful Jew from Jerusalem who received his teachings from the Holy Apostle Peter. He affectionately mentions him in his epistle, saying: "Peace be with you, the chosen Church in Babylon, and with Mark, as with my son." Their connection, however, was spiritual and not physical, his birth being through the good news and the mystery of Holy Baptism.
Saint Mark was born in Cyrene, a city in the Pentapolis, located in western Africa. His parents, Aristobulus and Mary, belonged to the tribe of Levi, being part of a wealthy family. Tradition consecrates him as one of the four evangelists, renowned for his letter, the Gospel according to Mark.
He was ordained a bishop by the Holy Apostle Peter and was included in the group of the seventy Apostles of Christ. He was sent to preach in Aquileia and then in Egypt, according to the testimony of Saint Symeon Metaphrastes: "In those times when the Holy Apostles spread throughout the world, Saint Mark, by the divine will, reached the regions of Egypt (...)." There, he strongly proclaimed the heavenly teaching of Christ and performed numerous miracles, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, and frightening unclean spirits with his divine word.
Saint Mark is mentioned for the first time in Holy Scripture shortly before the sacrifice of the Savior. He is the man to whom the Lord Jesus said: "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples"'" (Matthew 26:18).
It is said that the house of the Apostle Mark was the first church in Jerusalem. Here, the Passover was celebrated before the Passions of Christ, here the Apostles took refuge after His Crucifixion, and here they received the grace of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Peter, after miraculously being released from prison, went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. John was his Jewish name, and Mark was his Roman name.
Because of the miracles performed by Saint Mark, more and more people ceased to offer sacrifices to idols and worshiped Jesus Christ. This angered the leaders of the city, who decided to capture and kill him.
Soon, on April 24th, during the celebration of the Passover, the Holy Apostle Mark was captured by idol worshippers of Serapis and, after many tortures, was thrown into prison.
The next day, on April 25th, in the year 89, the pagans tied him by the neck with a rope and dragged him over sharp stones, shouting: "Let us drag the bull to the bulls' pen!" In those moments of suffering, Saint Mark thanked God and said, "Into Your hands, Lord, I entrust my spirit!" Then the sky darkened, a thunderous rain extinguished the fire, and dispersed the crowd.
With divine help, the faithful took the holy body and buried it in a sacred place of the church.
Saint Mark, the Apostle and Evangelist, is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on April 25th.
He is the founder and protector of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
The symbol of his Gospel is the lion, inspired by the prophecy of Saint John the Baptist, who cries out like a lion in the wilderness. The lion is present on the emblem of the Patriarchate, symbolizing the apostolic origin of Christianity in this region of Africa.
