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| Saint Mark the Evangelist, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Died :
• Martyred 25 April 68 at Alexandria, Egypt
• Relics at Venice, Italy
⛪ Patronage :
• Against impenitence • Against insect bites • Against scrofulous diseases • Against struma • Struma patients • Attorneys, lawyers, barristers • Captives • Imprisoned people • Glaziers • Lions • Notaries • Prisoners • Stained glass workers • Egypt • Ionian Islands
⛪ Symbols :
• Lion • Lion in the desert • Bishop on a throne decorated with lions • Man helping Venetian sailors • Man holding a book with pax tibi Marce written on it • Man holding a palm and book • Man with a book or scroll accompanied by a winged lion • Man with a halter around his neck • Man writing or holding his gospel • Rescuing Christian slaves from Saracens • Winged lion
Mark the Evangelist is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark. He is known to have established the Church of Alexandria, which held great significance in the early days of Christianity. Every year on April 25, his feast day is celebrated, and he is symbolized by the winged lion.
St. Mark, an Evangelist, belonged to the tribe of Levi. He received baptism from St. Peter and was taught the teachings of Christianity by him. Accompanying Peter to Rome, he preached the Gospel alongside him. The faithful requested Mark to write a biography of Jesus based on Peter's accounts, and Mark diligently complied. After Peter reviewed Mark's work, he confirmed its accuracy and approved it for the reading of all believers.
Subsequently, St. Peter sent St. Mark to Alexandria, where he became the first to spread the Word of God. According to an eyewitness named Simon, a large number of people converted to Christianity due to Mark's apostolic efforts in the city. St. Peter Damian mentioned that God bestowed upon Mark a special grace, leading the people of Alexandria to adopt monastic practices through his miracles and virtuous example. Following his death, his remains were brought back to Italy, honoring the land where he wrote his Gospel. St. Peter consecrated him as the Bishop of Alexandria, where his zealous preaching drew the ire of the priests who worshipped false gods. On Easter in 68 AD, they captured him during Mass, tied a rope around his neck, and paraded him through the city, causing severe injuries and staining the roads with his blood. However, Mark found solace in the prison through the presence of an Angel and a visit from Jesus Himself, who assured him of His nearness and bestowed peace upon him.
On the following day, the pagan priests once again encircled his neck with a rope and forcefully pulled him along the city streets. However, this time, his strength faltered and he succumbed to death, uttering the words, "Into Thy hands, I commend my spirit."
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned chaotic as the air became filled with turbulence, accompanied by flashes of lightning and the rumbling of thunder. Startled by this supernatural occurrence, the assailants who had intended to set his body ablaze hastily fled the scene. As a result, Mark's devoted disciples were able to gather his remains and give them a reverent burial.
Saint Mark's relics:
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| The Martyrdom of Saint Mark |
Saint Mark's relics, the remains of Mark the Evangelist, are held in St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy.
Saint Mark was killed for his faith and laid to rest in the Baucalis area of Alexandria in Egypt. The remains of Saint Mark were documented in Venice as early as the ninth century, mentioned in the will of Doge Giustiniano Participazio and in the travelogue of a Frankish monk who had visited the Holy Land. However, the oldest known written record of the transfer of Saint Mark's relics from Alexandria to Venice dates back to the eleventh century, even though there were likely earlier writings that served as sources.
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| Pietro della Vecchia, mosaics on the western façade of St Mark's Basilica(c. 1660): the removal of the body of Saint Mark from Egypt |
Theodore expresses concern about the declining
Christian community under Islamic rule and reveals that Caliph Al-Ma'mun has ordered the church's demolition to use its materials for new mosques. To safeguard the saint's body, it is decided to transport it to Venice. To avoid suspicion, the body is initially replaced with the remains of Saint Claudia, covered in pork, and smuggled past Muslim customs officials on the Venetian ship. During the voyage, Saint Mark miraculously saves the ship from destruction, confirming the authenticity of the relics. Upon reaching Venice, the body is received by the Bishop of Olivolo and taken in a grand procession to the Doge.
Christian community under Islamic rule and reveals that Caliph Al-Ma'mun has ordered the church's demolition to use its materials for new mosques. To safeguard the saint's body, it is decided to transport it to Venice. To avoid suspicion, the body is initially replaced with the remains of Saint Claudia, covered in pork, and smuggled past Muslim customs officials on the Venetian ship. During the voyage, Saint Mark miraculously saves the ship from destruction, confirming the authenticity of the relics. Upon reaching Venice, the body is received by the Bishop of Olivolo and taken in a grand procession to the Doge.
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| The arrival of the body in Venice |
In his final testament, Doge Giustiniano instructed his wife to construct a basilica in honor of Saint Mark, which was built between his palace and the chapel of Saint Theodore Stratelates, the former patron saint of Venice. This act of transferring the relics to Venice was seen as a rightful homecoming for Mark, as Buono and Rustico emphasized the Venetians' status as the "first-born sons" of the Evangelist, solidifying the city's claim to possess the relics. The narrative not only justifies Venice's right to the relics but also underscores the supremacy of the Venetian church, even surpassing the ancient metropolitan see of Alexandria.
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| Crypt of St. Mark's Basilica (Top) where Saint Mark's relics were kept until 1835 when they were moved to the high altar (Below) |
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Novena Prayer to St. Mark
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the Saints intercede with God for us. The Lord hath made His Saints wonderful. And heard them when they cried unto Him.
LET US PRAY
Preserve us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all dangers to soul and body, and by the intercession of the Blessed and Glorious Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of St. Joseph, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of St. Mark the Evangelist and all the Saints, in Thy mercy, grant us health and peace, that after all adversity and error is removed, Thy Church may serve Thee in freedom and safety, through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the union of the Holy Ghost world without end. Amen.
St. Mark pray for us.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory, etc. 3 times)
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Prayer to St. Mark as your Patron Saint
Saint Mark, whom I have chosen as my special patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did.
Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world.
Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen
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Hymn to St. Mark the Evangelist
Already throughout the whole earth there brightly gleams the Light, which shines from the Fathers Throne: the Light which is the fount and source and splendour of the golden light: the Light that never fails, beautifies heaven, and expels darkness from the world.
Blessed Mark, the Evangelical teacher, received into his heart a lovely ray of this sparkling sacred Light. He became as a Lamp reflecting that great Light, and putting to flight the gloom of this world by his brilliant flame.
He was one of the seven fair pillars, and one of the seven golden candlesticks, whose brightness shines as a star throughout the universe. He was one of the foundations that support the lofty structure of the Church.
He was one of the favoured living creatures seen of old by the holy Prophet Ezechiel, and by John, the Disciple that leaned on Jesus' breast. Mark was prefigured under the type of a Lion, whose wild roar is heard in the Wilderness.
He was sent by blessed Peter to Aquileia, that city of ancient fame. There he sowed the seed of the divine Word, and, with joy, garnered into heaven a hundredfold of fruit.
There he speedily raised a Christian Church. He gave it solidity of unshaken faith by building it on that faultless Rock, against which the billows, and storms, and floods, vent their rage in vain.
The soldier of Christ returned, wearing a wreath of fair lilies, with palm and laurel and roses: and thus crowned, he joyfully entered Rome, led thither by Christ.
This done, he sets out for Alexandria, and, filled with the Holy Ghost, traverses the ever fertile land of Egypt, preaching that the Only Begotten Son of the Father Almighty had come into the world for the world's salvation.
A cruel mob, enraged against the soldier of Christ, prepared various torments for him: he was bound with chains, pierced with arrows, and, after his holy flesh was torn by scourges, he was thrust into a dismal dungeon.
Mark was the first that taught Alexandria to know the true God. He there built a Church, which he dedicated to Christ, consecrated by the shedding of his own blood, and fortified by the solidity of holy faith.
Glory, praise and empire be to the Father! To thee, O Jesus, Who reignest in heaven above, and to the Holy Ghost, be honour and power! To the undivided Trinity be adoration paid for endless ages! Amen.
