St. Mark the Apostle’s Glorification | تمجيد مارمرقس الرسول

St. Mark the Apostle
His Early Life

St. Mark, also called John Mark, is frequently mentioned in the Book of Acts and the Epistles. He had two names: John, a Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is gracious”, and Mark, a Roman name meaning “hammer”.
He was born in Cyrene, one of the five western cities of Libya, in a town called Abruetolis, to Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. His father was Aristobulus, and his mother Mary, a devout woman highly regarded among the early Christians in Jerusalem.
He was well educated, mastering Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
When barbarian tribes attacked their property, the family fled from Cyrene to Palestine, their original homeland, and settled in Jerusalem. There he grew up in a pious family that was among the earliest to believe in and serve Christ.

His Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ

St. Mark and his mother Mary personally knew the Lord Jesus. His mother was one of the women who served Christ from their possessions. Many members of his family were also connected with the Lord.
Mark was related to St. Peter the Apostle, as his father was a cousin or uncle of Peter’s wife. He was also related to Barnabas (Col. 4:10), being his cousin or nephew, and to Thomas.

Mary, his mother, opened her house for the Lord and His disciples to eat the Passover in the Upper Room. There the Lord washed the disciples’ feet and instituted the Holy Eucharist — making that house the first Christian church in history, consecrated by Christ Himself.
After the Resurrection, the disciples continued to gather in that Upper Room, where the Holy Spirit descended upon them (Acts 2:1–4). Thus, the house of Mark became the first Christian church in the world where the believers met in apostolic times (Acts 12:12).

Mark saw and accompanied Christ, and according to Church tradition, he was one of the Seventy Apostles, earning him the title “Theologos” or “Beholder of God”.
The Fathers such as Origen and Epiphanius confirmed this.

Tradition also says that he was present at the Wedding at Cana of Galilee, and he was the young man carrying the water jar who prepared the Passover for the Lord (Mark 14:13–14; Luke 22:11). He is also believed to be the young man mentioned in Mark 14:51–52 who fled naked when Jesus was arrested — a detail found only in his Gospel, indicating it was his own experience.

His Evangelism and Apostolic Work

St. Mark began his ministry with St. Peter in Jerusalem and Judea. He later accompanied St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey, preaching in Antioch, Cyprus, and Asia Minor.
It is believed that he became ill in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem without completing the journey.
Later, he reunited with Paul and helped establish several churches, including the Church of Rome.

When Paul began his second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul refused. They parted ways — Paul went with Silas, and Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus (Acts 13:4–5; Acts 15:39).

Afterward, Mark disappeared from the Acts narrative because he had traveled to Egypt, where he founded the Church of Alexandria. Before that, he had preached in Cyrene (Libya), the oases, and Upper Egypt, entering Alexandria around 61 AD through its eastern gate.

History records that when his sandal broke, he took it to a cobbler named Anianus to repair. The awl pierced Anianus’ hand, and he cried out, “O one God!” St. Mark healed him in the name of Christ and preached to him the faith. Anianus and his household believed, becoming the first Christians in Alexandria. Mark later ordained Anianus as bishop, with three priests and seven deacons.

As Christianity spread rapidly, pagan crowds rose up, forcing Mark to leave for Cyrene and later Rome, where he assisted Paul. After some time, he returned to Egypt in 65 AD to continue his mission.

While celebrating the Holy Eucharist on the Feast of Passover, which coincided with the pagan feast of Serapis, pagan mobs attacked the church in Baucalis (the “Cattle House” area near the sea). They dragged St. Mark through the streets, shouting, “Drag the dragon into the cattle house!”
That night, the Lord appeared to him in prison, comforting and strengthening him. The next day, they repeated the torture until he surrendered his spirit to the Lord on 30 Baramouda (April 25, 68 AD).
When pagans tried to burn his body, heavy rain extinguished the fire. The believers then took his body reverently and buried it.

In 827 AD, Venetian merchants stole his relics and built a great church for him in Venice, where his body rests today — while his holy head remains in Alexandria, enshrined in the St. Mark Cathedral.

His Gospel

St. Mark wrote the Gospel according to Mark, which bears his name.
He is also the author of the Liturgy of St. Cyril (the Coptic Liturgy) — originally composed by him and later expanded by St. Cyril of Alexandria.

Theological School of Alexandria

St. Mark founded the renowned Catechetical School of Alexandria, the first Christian theological seminary in history. It produced great scholars and theologians who profoundly influenced Christianity both East and West.

St. Mark and the Lion

St. Mark is symbolized by a lion. The people of Venice, who venerate him as their patron saint, adopted the winged lion as their emblem, displayed in St. Mark’s Square.

This symbol is explained in several ways:

Miracle of the Lion – Once, as Mark and his father Aristobulus were walking near the Jordan, a lion and lioness appeared. Aristobulus asked his son to flee while he faced the beasts, but Mark prayed, and both animals fell dead. This miracle led his father to believe in Christ.

The Voice in the Wilderness – Mark begins his Gospel with “The voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Mark 1:3), echoing the roaring of a lion preparing the way for Christ, the true King.

Divine Authority – According to St. Ambrose, Mark’s Gospel emphasizes the divine authority of Jesus Christ — “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) — hence he is rightly symbolized by a lion, representing majesty and power.