Feast of St. Mark
The Feast of St. Mark, celebrated on April 25, honors St. Mark, one of the four Evangelists, who authored the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. While not one of the twelve apostles, Mark was closely linked to them and later became the first bishop of Alexandria, where he was martyred around A.D. 74 or 75. His remains became a significant pilgrimage site, and in the ninth century, Venetian merchants transported his relics to Venice, leading to the construction of the Basilica of St. Mark. This renowned church, characterized by its stunning Byzantine architecture and rich mosaics, was completed in 1071 and has undergone various embellishments over the centuries. St. Mark is recognized as the patron saint of Venice, and local traditions include superstitions associated with the eve of his feast, such as sightings of apparitions. The significance of St. Mark's legacy is further reflected in cultural works, including Maxwell Anderson's play, "The Eve of St. Mark," which touches on themes of loss and remembrance. This feast is observed by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and various Protestant denominations, underscoring its broad cultural and religious importance.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Feast of St. Mark
Feast of St. Mark
The Feast of St. Mark, one of the four Evangelists, is observed on April 25 by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and some Protestant churches. Mark, whose full name was John Mark, was not one of the 12 Apostles but was one of the larger number of disciples, the band of men who were closely associated with the apostles.
Sometime between A.D. 64 and 70, Mark wrote his Gospel, one of the four Gospels on the life of Jesus in the New Testament. According to tradition, Mark became the first bishop of Alexandria and was martyred there about 74 or 75. His followers reportedly obtained possession of his body and put it in a sepulcher, which became a shrine visited by the faithful. Early in the ninth century Venetian merchants trading in Alexandria are said to have acquired the relics and carried them to Venice, where a church was built over them. This original church was destroyed by fire in 967. The present Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, graced with delicate masonry and studded with mosaics, is one of the most famous churches in the world. Its main structure, designed by Byzantine architects, was completed in 1071. In following centuries, embellishments were added, so that the basilica today is a mixture of Byzantine and Gothic architecture, richly adorned with sculpture and rare forms of marble. What are said to be the remains of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice since the ninth century, lie under the main altar.
An English superstition holds that on the eve of St. Mark apparitions of those who will die within the ensuing year can be seen in the churchyard. In Maxwell Anderson's 1942 play The Eve of St. Mark, a young American solider, who will not return from the war, appears in spirit to his mother and his sweetheart.