Coptic Church
An Excerpt from the book, “Saint Mark the Evangelist” by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Chapter 6.
1- THE GREATNESS OF ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria was the cultural capital of the world when Saint Mark arrived there. Its famous School was the centre of science and philosophy with a library filled with hundreds of thousands of books. The population of Alexandria was estimated to be from half to three quarters of a million, (1) who were Egyptians, Greeks, Jews, Romans, Ethiopians, Nubians and other races.
2- ITS RELIGIOUS STATUS
The people Saint Mark faced were a complex of different religions. There was the old Pharaohnic religion that had many gods like Isis, Oziris, Hirus, Amun, Abis, Hathur etc., under the great god Ra. The Greeks had many gods under their supreme god Zius. At this period there was a movement calling to combine both the Egyptian and the Greek gods, as ‘syncretism’ to be under the god ‘Sirabis’, the great idol. The Romans too had many gods under Jupiter.
There were also the Jews, with their prophets, laws and the scriptures and the heresies that the Pharisees introduced. Their number in the city was huge, that they occupied one out of the five districts of the city. At the same time some of the Jews who arrived recently from Jerusalem were already converted to Christianity before coming to Egypt.
The name of Christ had already arrived to many individuals, through Apollo of Alexandria. Apollo was mentioned in the Book of Acts, “An eloquent man and mighty in scriptures… He was fervent in the spirit … For he mightily convinced the Jews and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” [Acts 18:24 -28]. It might be possible that some of the Jews of Alexandria had received the Word of God through Saint Simon of Cana or through “dear Theophilus” who was close to Saint Luke. But all of these cases were limited to some individuals only. Beside all these religions, there were many wise men from India, Persia and Egyptian priests who were leaders in a pagan environment.
Accordingly, the city was a mixture of idol religions with an atmosphere of philosophical arguments and discussions, particularly at the school of Alexandria and its museum. Saint Mark stood alone to face all these religions and philosophies, but he was capable in defeating them with the power of God. He entered Alexandria with a torn sandal from walking the long way.
3- WHEN DID ST. MARK ARRIVE IN ALEXANDRIA?
It is difficult to determine the exact dates for the journeys of the apostles. Usually calculated in relation to the events, and the time of the arrival of Saint Mark was no exception.
Josephus, the famous historian, mentioned that Saint Mark came to Alexandria in 43 AD, while Mrs. Butler estimated it to be in 45 AD. Patriarch Maximos Mazloom suggested that it was in 49 AD. Selim Soliman, Francis Al Etre, Deacon Menassa Youhanna gave the date as 55 AD. For Ibn Akbar it was 58 AD and for Father Chineau it was 60 AD, when Saint Mark was 50 years old. Abu Shaker Ibn Al Raheb, Anba Isedoros, Habib Guirgis, Kamel Saleh Nakhla and Iris Al Masri, said that his arrival was in 61 AD. With such variations in dates, most of the ancient historians preferred not to guess and rather to stress on the events themselves. That was what the Book of Acts almost did. We don’t accept the earlier dates, as Saint Mark was still a youth, in the company of other apostles. Certainly he didn’t come before the Council of Jerusalem which was about 50 AD, as agreed by all the historians.
After the Council of Jerusalem, he accompanied Saint Barnabas to Cyprus where both preached together. Later, Saint Paul, appreciating the importance of Saint Mark in preaching, he called him to work with him.
When Saint Mark was alone on his own, he went to the Five Western Cities and stayed there for few years. He may have arrived there between 55-58 AD. It is most probable that he arrived in Alexandria about the year 60 or 61 AD and this was accepted by most of the Coptic historians who estimated his stay in Alexandria to be seven years or seven years and eight months.(2)
4- ON THE WAY TO ALEXANDRIA
On his way to Alexandria, the words of Isaiah might have been in his thoughts,
+ “The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rode upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt and the idols of Egypt shall be removed at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.”
+ “And that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord…And it shall be a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt…And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation, yes, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it…”
+ “Blessed be Egypt my people.” [Isiah 19: 1, 19 -21, 25]
Also he might have been thinking about the journey of Christ with the Virgin Saint Mary and the blessing they left to Egypt. It was said that he entered Alexandria, coming from the Five Western Cities, passing through the oasis to Upper Egypt and from there to Alexandria where he entered it east to the port where there was an oblisk.(3)
5- PREACHING TO ANIANUS THE COBBLER
He was praying before entering Alexandria to God, to provide him with the spiritual needs for the success of his mission. By the time he arrived, his sandal was already torn, so he went to Anianus, a cobbler, to repair it. While Anianus was holding the needle, it went through his finger and he screamed from pain and said, “O’ the One God”. Saint Mark was delighted when he heard this phrase, which was an appropriate chance to begin talking to him about that One God. It was also appropriate to ease him from his pain first, so he took some mud and spat on it and put it on his wound, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God, heal this hand.” (4) It was healed on the spot as if nothing happened to it. Anianus was surprised at the miracle which was done in the name of Jesus Christ and opened his heart to the Word of God.
Saint Mark asked him about the One God he called, but Anianus replied that he heard about Him, but didn’t know Him. Then Saint Mark began to talk to him spiritually. When his sandal was repaired he was invited to go to Anianus’ home to talk more about that God. As Saint Mark entered the house he made the sign of the cross and asked God’s Blessing to fill it. (5) He stayed with this family talking about Lord Christ. When Anianus asked to see The True God, Saint Mark assured him that he will. He talked with him about the scriptures, the prophets, the incarnation, the miracles, the crucifixion and the great sacrifice He provided to the world. Anianus and his family became believers and Saint Mark baptized them. This home was the first fruit in Saint Mark’s preaching in Egypt.
6- SPREAD OF THE FAITH IN EGYPT
Saint Mark who is considered the, First Bishop of Alexandria, found that his first responsibility was to continue preaching from one place to another, challenging all the difficulties that he met. With great enthusiasm he was able to convert many to the faith in God, in spite of the different numerous religions of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians and the arguments of the Jews.
The Catholic Jesuit, Father Frermaj reported in his book “Moraweg Al Akhyar” referring to Saint Mark, that “ God blessed him for his unique enthusiasm. The land which was full of darkness of the filth among the unbelievers, was changed by Saint Mark the Evangelist to a heavenly paradise, with justice shinning over it.” (6) Maximos Mazloom, the Patriarch of the Greek Catholic Melchites, wrote about Saint Mark, “ He pulled the inhabitants to the faith in Christ, in grooves, with God’s blessing and the marvelous miracles he did,.that Alexandria became a second Jerusalem, similar to what happened when the Holy Spirit descended in the Chamber of Zion . (7)
The Word of God flourished forcefully and very fast despite the encountered difficulties, which were overcome. We understand what Saint Paul meant when he said about Saint Mark, “For he is profitable to me in the ministry.” [2 Titus 4:11]
7- ALEXANDRIA AFTER ST. MARK
Saint Mark had great impact on Alexandria. His success to convert large numbers to believe was due to his deep spirituality, and his strong relation with God. Eusebius the famous historian, referred to this as such, “There were multitudes of believers, men and women, who gathered from the beginning and lived the extraordinary simple life, that Philo noted to be worthy to describe. Their efforts, gatherings, and their comfort in all the ways of their lives were tremendous. (8) Eusebius in a complete chapter in his book about the philosopher Phillo admired the monastic life in Egypt.
Father Chineau in his book “The Saints of Egypt,” wrote, “Life became marvellous in Egypt” after accepting the faith and Philo, the famous Jew, confirmed that Alexandria brought back the memory of the early days of the Church in Jerusalem. (9) Let us find what the philosopher Philo said about the believers in Egypt as stated by Eusebius, “They left their properties, under the influence of their faith and followed the path of the prophets;” “There was a holy place in every house, to practice their religion in, in complete isolation. They didn’t permit into it any food, drink or anything for the need of the body;” “All day long from the morning to the night they were praying, reading the Holy Books”.; “They created songs and praises for God with different tunes and rhythms” ; “They ate only after sunset” ; “They enjoyed the wisdom, without limit, tremendously.” He also referred to their purity and described their prayers, silence and services.
8- OTHER WORKS OF ST. MARK
Saint Mark established a Theological School to stand against the school for the pagans and to combat their ideas. He designated Saint Justus to manage the school who later became the sixth bishop of Alexandria. He wrote the Holy Liturgy for Saint Anianus and the priests to use in praying.
9- ANIANUS WAS ORDAINED A BISHOP FOR ALEXANDRIA AND ST. MARK’S TRAVEL
With the tremendous success and achievement for the faith in Egypt, the unbelievers were very angry and they decided to kill Saint Mark. The believers advised Saint Mark to leave Egypt for a while for the safety of the church. Saint Mark, who preached other cities in Egypt, agreed to leave, to return back to the Five Western Cities. He then ordained Saint Anianus to be the Bishop of Alexandria in 62 AD. He also ordained three priests, Milius, Sabinus, Sardenus, and seven deacons.(10) It is noticed that Anianus was ordained a bishop while Saint Mark was still living, which indicates Saint Mark’s apostolic universal authority to ordain bishops wherever he went, as he did in the Five Western Cities.
Saint Jerome, mistakenly in his book, wrote that Saint Mark was killed in 62 AD the year Anianus was ordained, assuming that his predecessor must have died before such an event could be possible.(11)
10- THE RETURN OF ST. MARK TO ALEXANDRIA
Saint Mark stayed for a few years among the church in the Five Western Cities and with Saint Paul preaching in Rome. Then the two great apostles Saint Paul and Saint Peter were killed and Saint Mark returned to Alexandria. On his return, he found that the church he planted, grew and became prosperous and the number of the believers increased tremendously. and a church was built in the eastern part of Alexandria, known as Pokalia. (12)
Saint Mark kept watching his people grow and visited and preached other cities in Egypt. This annoyed the pagans to the extent that they named him as, “ The exterminator of the idols”.
References:
1- The history of the Church of Alexandria in Africa.
2- Refer to the numerous publications of Kamel Saleh Nakhla, pp. 106-107.
3- Kamel Saleh Nakhla : The history of Saint Mark p. 57,58.
4- Les Saints d’Egypte I p. 501.
5- This house became Saint George Church, The History of the Patriarchs by Ibn Al Mokafaa.
6- Morawag Al Akhyar fi Taragem Al Abrar p. 233 [25 Nisan]
7- Kenz Al Ebad Al Thameen fi Akhbar Al Kediseen, Part 2 p. 552 [25 Nissan]
8- Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, II 16, 2.
9- Chineau : Les Saints d’Egypte, I p. 502.
10- Chineau & Rene Basset: Le Synaxaire.
11- Saint Jerome: Illustrious Men: 8.
12- Pokalia meant place for the cows or place with plants for the cows to eat. It is the present site for Saint Mark Cathedral in Alexandria
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was born in the name of “Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulyaman” on November 4th, 1952 in the city of Mansoura, Egypt. His father was an Irrigation Engineer and his family moved around during his childhood from Mansoura to Sohag and then to Damanhour.
His Holiness received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1975 from Alexandria University and earned a fellowship for the World Health Organization from the British International Health Institute in England in 1985. He attended the Coptic Seminary and graduated in 1983. He then worked in a pharmaceutical company in Damanhour that was owned by the Ministry of Health.
His Holiness’s life has always revolved around church since his youth; he wished to live the life of monasticism. He entered the Monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi Elnatroun on August 20th, 1986 and remained a brother for two years. He was ordained a monk on July 31, 1988 and after a year he was ordained a priest on December 23, 1989. Two months after, H.H. Pope Tawadros started serving with H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomiusof Beheira on February 15th, 1990. He was ordained a bishop on June 15th, 1997 by H.H. the Late Pope Shenouda III as a General Bishop assisting H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomius. His Holiness focused on childhood whether it was in the country-wide children’s festival as well when he was in charge of the children’s committee in the Holy Synod. Before assuming the papacy, H.H. wrote twelve books.
His Holiness was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark on November 18th, 2012 at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbassiya, Cairo. The enthronement was presided by H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomius of Beheira, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, other metropolitans and bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church and was attended by many delegates of other Christian Churches.
St. Mark the Apostle, Evangelist
Preacher of The Christian Faith in Africa
St. Mark was a native of the North Africa county of Libya. He was born in the city of Cyrene in Pentapolis, The western part of Libya, west of the border of Egypt. St. Mark was born of Jewish parents three years after the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His original name was John and his surname was Mark : “And when he (Peter) came to himself ….., he (Peter) came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many gathered together praying” (acts 12:11-12); and ” Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark” (acts 15:37); “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark” (Acts 12:25). St. Mark’s parents, Aristopolos his father and Mary his mother, migrated to Palestine shortly after the birth of St. Mark because of the Berber attacks on their town and property. They settled in Cana of Galilee not far from Jerusalem A few years later St. Mark’s father died and Peter Simon (St. Peter), who was married to a relative of St. Mark’s father took care of St. Mark and considered him a son: “The Church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you and so does Marcus (Mark) my son”; (1 Peter 5:13). Peter Simon saw to it that St. Mark got a good education. St. Mark studied law and the classics.
Church Traditions state that Mary, St. Mark’s mother, was admirer of Jesus Christ and followed Him everywhere and that St. Mark was one of the attendants who served at the feast in Cana of Galilee at which Jesus Christ turned the waster into wine: “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee… and both Jesus and was called and his disciples, to the marriage… when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, … This was the first miracle Jesus did…” (John 2:1-11)
Quick Facts
+ He was born in the Pentapolis or Qairawan (Now Tunisia or Libya according to other sources) approximately 15 years after our Lord was born.
+ He witnessed the preaching of our Lord in Palestine as well as his passion.
+ He is the author of the earliest Gospel to be written (it was written in Greek).
+ He was the founder of Christianity in Egypt or in Alexandria at least. He came to Alexandria approximately 48 AD. Foot Note: According to some sources, St. Peter preached in Babylon about the same time St. Mark was in Alexandria; however he focussed on the Jews of Babylon (a city near Memphis, Cairo now).
+ He was martyred in 68 AD when pagans of Serapis (the Serapion-Abbis Greek Egyptian god) 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.
+ The Church celebrates his martyrdom on the 8th of May each year.
+ His head is in a church named after him in Alexandria, and parts of his relics are in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. The rest of his relics are in the San Marco Cathedral in Venice, Italy.
+ Of his titles are: The Evangelist, the Apostle, the Witness and the Martyr.