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[[Image:Apostle Mark.jpg|right|frame|The Apostle Mark]]The holy, glorious and all-laudable '''Apostle and Evangelist Mark''' is the author of the [[Gospel of Mark]], the companion of the [[Apostle Paul]] (as recorded in the [[Acts of the Apostles]]), and is numbered among the Seventy [[Apostles#The_Seventy|Seventy Apostles]]. He is often referred to as '''John Mark''', and is the founder of the [[Church of Alexandria]], being regarded as its first pope. As a result, he is also particularly venerated by the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]] as its founder, as well. His symbol as one of the four [[evangelist]]s is a lion. The Church celebrates his [[feast day]]s on [[April 25]]; [[September 27]] with [[Apostle Aristarchus|Aristarchus]] and [[Apostle Zenas|Zenas]]; [[October 30]] with [[Apostle Tertius|Tertius]], [[Apostle Justus|Justus]], [[Apostle Artemas|Artemas]], and [[Apostle Cleopas|Cleopas]]; and [[January 4]] among the Seventy. 

His name was John, as the Holy Bible says: "He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying" (Acts 12:12). He was the one that whom the Lord Christ, to Whom is the glory, 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[[disciple]]s'" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 26:18).

This apostle was born in Cyrene (one of the five Western cities, Pentapolis, in North Africa). His father's name was Aristopolus and , his mother's name was Maryand he was a kinsman of the [[Apostle Barnabas]]. They were [[Judaism|Jewish]] in faith, rich and of great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was called Mark after they emigrated immigrated to Jerusalem, where St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] had become a disciple of Jesus Christ. St. Peter was married to the cousin of Aristopolus. Mark visited St. Peter's house often, and from him he learned the Christian teachings. Once Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river, close by 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, Mark. 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 marvelled and asked his son to tell him about Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who [[baptism|baptized]] him.

After Once when Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the ascension of Jordan river, close by the Lord Christdesert, he accompanied Paul they encountered a raving lion and [[Apostle Barnabas|Barnabas]] a lioness. It was evident to preach Aristopolus that it would be his end and the gospel end of his son, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered, "Christ, in Antiochwhose hands our lives are committed, will not let them prey on us." Saying this, he prayed, Seleucia"O, CyprusChrist, SalamisSon of God, protect us from the evil of these two beasts and Perga Pamphylia where he left them terminate their offspring from this wilderness." Immediately, God granted this prayer, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marvelled and returned asked his son to Jerusalemtell him about Christ. After He believed in the Lord Christ at the apostolic council in Jerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Cyprushands of his son who [[baptism|baptized]] him.

After the departure [[ascension]] of Barnabas, with the order of JesusLord Christ, St. Mark went accompanied Paul and [[Apostle Barnabas|Barnabas]] to Afrikiapreach the [[gospel]] in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Berkaand Perga Pamphylia, where he left them and the five Western citiesreturned to Jerusalem. He preached After the gospel apostolic council in these parts, and believed on his hands most of its people. From thereJerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Alexandria in 61 A.DCyprus.

When he entered After the citydeparture of Barnabas, his shoe was torn because of the much walking in preaching and evangelismSt. He Mark went to a cobbler in the cityAfrikia, called AnianusBerka, to repair itand the five Western cities. While he was repairing it He preached the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted gospel in Greek saying "Eis Theos!" which means "Othese parts, one God!" When St. Mark heard these words and on his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the one Godaccount many believed. The apostle took some clayFrom there, spat on it and applied it he went to Anianus' finger, saying "Alexandria in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God," and the wound healed immediately, as if nothing happened to it61 A.D.

Anianus When he entered the city, his shoe was exceedingly amazed from this miracle that happened torn because of the amount he had walked during his preaching and [[evangelism]]. He went to a cobbler in the name city, called [[Anianus of Jesus ChristAlexandria|Anianus]], and his heart opened to the word of Godrepair it. The apostle asked him about who While Anianus was repairing the shoe, the only God that he cried for when he was injuredawl pierced his finger. Anianus replied shouted in Greek saying "I heard about himEis Theos!" which means "O, but I do not know him.one God!" When St. Mark started explaining heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him from about the beginningone God. The apostle took some clay, spat on it, the creation of heaven and earthapplied it to Anianus' finger, saying "in the transgression and fall Name of Adam, Jesus Christ the flood, how Son of God sent [[Moses,]] who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, " and gave them the Lawwound healed immediately, the captivity of the children of Israel as if nothing had happened to Babylon, and the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christit.

Anianus was exceedingly amazed by this [[miracle]] that happened in the name of Jesus Christ, and his heart opened to the word of God. The apostle asked him about who was the only God that he cried for when he was injured. Anianus replied "I heard about him, but I do not know him." St. Mark started explaining to him from the beginning, from the creation of heaven and earth all the way to the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ. Anianus then invited him to go to his house and brought to him his children. The saint preached and baptized them.

When the believers in the name of Christ increased and the pagan people of the city heard thatof it, they were raged with anger enraged and thought of slaying St. Mark. The faithful advised him to get away leave for a short while , for the sake of the safety of the church and its care. St. Mark [[ordination|ordained ]] St. [[Anianus]] as [[bishop]] for of Alexandria, as well as three priests [[priest]]s and seven deacons[[deacon]]s. He went to the five Western cities, and remained there for two years preaching, and where he ordained more bishops, [[priest]]spriests, and [[deacon]]sdeacons.

He Finally he returned to Alexandria , where he found the believers had increased in number, and built a church for them in the place known as Bokalia (the place of cows), east of Alexandria on the sea shore.

[[Image:StMarkCathAlex.jpg|thumb|St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, where the saint's head is preserved to this day.]]It came to pass, when he was celebrating the feast of the Resurrection in thr the year 68 A.D., that the same day coincided with the great pagan celebration for the feast of the god Syrabis, . Thus a multitude of them pagans assembled and , attacked the church at Bokalia , and forced their way in. They seized St. Mark, bound him with a thick rope , and dragged him in through the roads and streets crying, "Drag the dragon to the place of cows." They continued dragging him with severe cruelty. His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere, and the ground of the city was covered with his blood. They cast him that night into a dark prison.

The [[Image:StMarkCathAlex.jpg|thumb|St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, where the saint's head is preserved to this day.angel]] 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.

The next morning, the pagans took St. Mark from the prison. They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same as the day before, dragging him over the rocks and stones. Finally, St. Mark delivered up his pure soul in into the hand hands of God, and received the crown of [[martyr]]dom, the apostolic crown, the crown of evangelism, and the crown of virginity.

Nevertheless, St. Mark's death did not satisfy the rage of the pagans and their hatred. They gathered much firewood and prepared an inferno to burn him. A But a severe storm blew in, and heavy rains fell. The pagans became frightened, and they fled away in fear.

The believers came and took the holy body, carried it to the church they built at Bokalia, wrapped it up, prayed over the saint, and placed him and place it in a coffin. They laid it the coffin in a secret place in this church.

==Importance to the Coptic Churchchurch==[[Image:CopticIconStMark.jpg|thumb|rightleft|Coptic icon of Saint Mark the Evangelist. Note the typical lion near the bottom-left of the icon.]]In the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian]] [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]], the Apostle Mark is perhaps the most beloved of all saints, being the founder of the see of Alexandria in the first century. Many of their Coptic churches are named for him, and on the 30th of Babah ([[Coptic calendar]]), the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the commemoration of the [[consecration of a church|consecration ]] of the church of the pure St. Mark the Evangelist, the founder of the church in Egypt, and the appearance of his holy head in the city of Alexandria.

[[Image:PopeKyrillosVIreceivingStMarkRelics1968.jpg|thumb|A historical event: Pope [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Kyrillos VI ]] receiving the [[relics ]] of St. Mark in Cairo airport.]] On the 17th of [[w:Paoni|Baounah ]] (Coptic month), of the year 1684 A.M. (Coptic calendar), that coincided with which was Monday, [[June 24]], 1968 A.D., and in the tenth year of the papacy of Pope [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Pope Kyrillos the Sixth]], 116th Pope of Alexandria, the [[relics ]] of the great saint, the beholder of God, St. Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of the Egyptian land and the first [[Patriarch ]] of Alexandria, were returned to Egypt. After eleven centuries outside Egypt, St. Mark's body has at last returned to the same country (Cairo, Egypt) where he was martyred, and where [http://www.st-marc.com/English/history.htm his head] is preserved to this day in the city of Alexandria, Egypt.  Pope Kyrillos had delegated sent an official delegation to travel to Rome to receive the relics of St. Mark the Apostle from the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] Pope Paul VI. The papal delegation consisted of ten metropolitans and bishops, seven of them whom were Coptic and three Ethiopians, and three of the prominent Coptic [[laity|lay ]] leaders. The Alexandrian delegation received the relics of St. Mark the Apostle on Saturday the 22nd of , [[June22]], 1968 A.D. , from Pope Paul VI. The moment of handing over the holy relics, after eleven centuries, during which the body of St. Mark was kept in the city of Venice, in Italy, was a solemn and joyful moment.

This celebration was attended by the journalists, the international news agencies' reporters, radio, television and more than six thousand Egyptians and foreigners==Hymns==[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 3) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID=100019]

:Holy apostle Mark of the Seventy;:entreat the merciful;:to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions. Troparion (Tone 4) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID=101204] :From your childhood the light of truth enlightened you, O Mark,:and you loved the labor of Christ the Savior.:Therefore, you followed Peter with zeal:and served Paul well as a fellow laborer,:and you enlighten the world with your holy Gospel. [[Kontakion]] (Tone 4) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID= Source 100019] :The Church ever sees you as a shining star, O apostle Mark,:Your miracles have manifested great enlightenment.:Therefore we cry out to Christ::"Save those who with faith honor Your apostle, O Most Merciful One." Kontakion (Tone 2) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID=101204] :When you received the grace of the Spirit from on high, O Apostle,:you broke the snares of the philosophers and gathered all nations into your net,:bringing them to your Lord, O glorious Mark,:by the preaching of the divine Gospel.  {{start box}}{{succession|before=—|title=[[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Bishop of Alexandria]]|years=43-63|after=[[Anianus]]}}{{end box}} == Sources ==

== External Links ==[[Category:Biblical Saints|Mark]]* [http[Category://tasbeha.org/content/hh_books/Stmark/ St. Seventy Apostles|Mark's detailed biography by H.H. Pope Shenouda III]]* [http[Category://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/mark.html St. Martyrs|Mark the Apostle, Evangelist, and Preacher ]][[Category:Patriarchs of the Christian Faith in AfricaAlexandria|Mark]]* [http[Category://www.zeitun-eg.net/stcyril6/stcyril6_v18.zip The return of St. Saints|Mark Relics from Italy (June 1968 ]][[Category:1st- zipped RealVideo)century saints]]

[[Categoryar:Biblical Saintsمرقس الرسول]][[Categoryel:SaintsΕυαγγελιστής Μάρκος]][[ro:Apostolul Marcu]]