St. Mark the Evangelist

St. Mark the Evangelist

April 25th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Mark the Evangelist +68 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Marqos sabrono was born in Cyrene (Pentapolis), Africa to a family of the Levite tribe, & given the name John. When their home was attacked by barbarians, the family moved to Jerusalem. Several important events took place in the home of St. Mark in Jerusalem, including: the Last Supper & institution of the first Holy Qurbono by our Lord Jesus Christ along with the washing of Apostles feet (John 13:12); the Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4); the election of Apostle Mathias (Acts 1:21-26); the Council of the Apostles in 51AD presided over by St. James the just, the brother of Jesus & the first Archbishop of Jerusalem; & St. Peter came to this house upon release from prison by an angel. A 6th century Syriac inscription discovered from the site of the house of Mary reads as follows: “This is the house of Mary, mother of John, called Mark. After the ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ, into heaven, the holy apostles proclaimed this church in the name of Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Renewed after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in the year 73AD.” Along with the church, there is St. Mark's Monastery (Dayro d-Mor Marqos) which is the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem, Holy Land & Jordan. St. Mark was one amongst the 72 Evangelists of the Lord & mentioned a few other times in the Gospels. He was a relative of St. Barnabas & was very dear to St. Peter the chief of the Holy Apostles, who converted St. Mark. The Gospel of Mark was written by St. Mark, but recounts St. Peter's depiction of our Lord Jesus' mission.This is acknowledged by the Church father Irenaeus who writes, "Mark, Peter's disciple & interpreter, had also passed on to us in written materials as preached by Peter." Peter ordained Mark bishop of Alexandria in around 61AD. According to Syriac tradition, while travelling in Alexandria, Mark met a cobbler by name Anianus. His finger was punctured by a needle & he was in pain. Mark made clay & anointed his finger. Anianus was healed immediately. Anianus took Mark to his home where he preached about Jesus Christ. Numerous people believed in Jesus & were baptized. In 64AD, Mark ordained three Priests & seven deacons. St. Anianus was appointed as the successor of Mark. St Mark also founded the first theological school in Alexandria to train people who would become leaders in the faith. Mark left for Rome where he spent time with St. Peter & St. Paul until their martyrdoms. Mark soon returned to Alexandria. It so happened that Easter was on the same day as the festival of the pagan deity Serapis. The heathens were angered by the Christians celebrating the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They seized Mark, tied him to a horse & made it run until he was brutally disfigured. They then imprisoned him, followed by another day of torture leading to his death. Thus Mor Marqos sabrono attained the crown of martyrdom. The heathens tried to burn his body, but a sudden storm extinguished the fire & the heathens ran away in fear. Finally, the body of St. Mark was entombed in a church dedicated to his honor in Alexandria. The successors of St. Mark are known as Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church', Melthodhaye & SUSCOPTS website. Hymn of St. Severus of Antioch on St. Mark the Evangelist: "He shall manage His words with judgment" (Psalms 112:5) "The divine Mark, the true disciple of the great Peter the chief of the Apostles, having with readiness proclaimed or preached to creation day by day the salvation of Christ our God, and having with the great among prophets David the Psalmist made known His glory, taught the whole of Egypt, which had become drunk in pursuit of the error of demon-worship, not only to believe, but also to proclaim the theology with all accuracy. Wherefore, reckoning the commemoration of this man to be our crown, we beseech thee, Christ, through his intercession deliver the souls or us all, according to the abundance of Thy great mercy." Oh Mor Marqos sabrono! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. BL17134