St. Mark the Apostle

The Evangelist of the Land of Egypt

The Story In A Minute

His Birth and Early Life

Saint Mark was born in Cyrene - one of the five Western cities, Pentapolis, in North Africa (Libya). His name was John, whose Roman name was Mark. His father's name was Aristopolus and his mother's name was Mary.

They were Jewish in faith, rich and of great honor. They educated him in the Greek and Hebrew cultures. When they immigrated to Jerusalem, Mark visited Saint Peter's house often, and from him he learned the Christian teachings.

Once, when Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan River near the desert, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his son’s life. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself.

Mark answered: "Christ, in whose hands our lives are committed, will not let them prey on us." Saying this, he prayed, "O, Christ, Son of God protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness."

Immediately, God granted this prayer, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marveled and asked his son to tell him about the Lord Christ. His father believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of Saint Mark, who baptized him.

His House- The First Church

He was the one that the Lord Christ meant when He 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)

His house was the first Christian church, where they ate the Passover and hid after the death of the Lord Christ. Also, in its Upper Room where the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Preaching and Writing the Gospel

After the ascension of the Lord Christ, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, and Perga Pamphylia, where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus.

And following the departure of Barnabas, with the order of the Lord Christ, Saint Mark preached in Africa, Berka, and the five Western cities. Many people believed because of his teachings.

Saint Mark is the author of the first Gospel, written in the Greek language in A.D. 55 - 65 in Rome.

Preaching in Egypt

Saint Mark went to Alexandria, Egypt, in the year 61 A.D. When he entered the city, his shoe was torn because of his long travels on foot preaching and evangelising.
He went to a cobbler in the city, called Anianus, to repair it.

While he was repairing it the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying "EIOS THEOS" which means "O, ONE GOD". When Saint Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the One God.

The Apostle took some clay, spat on it and applied it to Anianus' finger, saying: “In the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” The wound healed immediately, as if nothing had happened to it.

Anianus was greatly amazed that this miracle happened in the Name of Jesus Christ, and his heart opened to the word of God. The Apostle asked him about the only God that he had cried to when he was injured. Anianus replied, "I heard about him, but I do not know him."

Saint Mark started explaining to him the truth from the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the transgression resulting in the fall of man, and the economy of salvation which was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

Anianus invited him to his house and brought to him his children. Saint Mark preached and baptized them. When the believers in the Name of Christ increased, the pagan people of the city were enraged and thought to slay Saint Mark. The faithful advised him to get away for a short while for the sake of the safety of the church.

Saint Mark ordained Saint Anianus Bishop of Alexandria, with three priests and seven deacons. He went to the five Western cities and remained there for two years. He returned to Alexandria, where he found the believers had increased in number. He built a church for them east of Alexandria. Saint Mark also established Alexandria's theological school.

The Lord Jesus Appears to Him

It came to pass, when he was celebrating the Feast of the Resurrection that it coincided with the great pagan celebration of the feast of the god Syrabis. A multitude of people assembled and attacked the church and forced their way in.
They seized Saint Mark, bound him with a thick rope, and dragged his body on the streets. His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere, and the ground of the city was covered with his blood.

That night, they cast him into a dark prison. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him:

"O Mark, the good servant, rejoice for your name has been written in the book of life, and you have been counted among the congregation of the saints."

The angel disappeared, then the Lord Christ appeared to him, and gave him peace. His soul rejoiced and was glad.

His Martyrdom

The next morning, the pagans took Saint Mark from the prison. They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same to him as they had done the day before, dragging him over the rocks and stones. Finally, Saint Mark delivered his pure soul in the hand of God, and received The Crown of Martyrdom, The Apostolic Crown, and The Crown of Evangelism.

His Feast

The church celebrates the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Mark on May 8th every year - the 30th day of the Coptic month of Parmoute.

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References

Synaxarium- Coptic Reader App

St. Takla. Org