Synaxarium
Daily Stories of the Saints
for the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
The Thirtieth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Baramouda 30
Martyrdom of the Great Saint Mark, the
Apostle, the Evangelist of the Land of Egypt
On this day, which coincided with the
26th. of April 68 A.D., the great apostle St. Mark, the evangelist of the
land of Egypt, was martyred. He was the first Pope of Alexandria and one
of the Seventy Apostles. 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
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"
(Matthew
26:18). His house was the first Christian church, where they ate the Passover,
hid after the death of the Lord Christ, and in its upper room the Holy
Spirit came upon them. This Saint 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 Mary. They were Jewish in faith, rich and of
great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was
called Mark after they emigrated to Jerusalem, where St. Peter had become
a disciple to the Lord 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 the Lord Christ. He believed in the
Lord Christ at the hands of his son who baptized him. After the ascension
of the Lord Christ, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel
in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, and Perga Pamphylia where he left
them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem,
he went with Barnabas to Cyprus. After the departure of Barnabas, with
the order of the Lord Christ, St. Mark went to Afrikia, Berka, and the
Five Western cities. He preached the Gospel in these parts, and believed
on his hands most of its people. From there, he went to Alexandria in the
1st. of Bashans 61 A.D.
When he entered the city, his shoe was
torn because of the much walking in preaching and evangelism. He went to
a cobbler in the city, called Anianus, to repair it. While he was repairing
it the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying "EIS THEOS"
which means "O, ONE GOD". When St.Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced
exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the One God. The
Apostle took some clay, spat on it and applied it to Anianus' finger, saying
in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the wound healed immediately,
as if nothing happened to it. Anianus was exceedingly amazed from 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,
the creation of heaven and earth, the transgression and fall of Adam, the
flood, how God sent Moses, who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt,
and gave them the Law, the captivity of the children of Israel to Babylon,
and the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ.
Anianus invited him to go to his
house and brought to him his children. The Saint preached and baptized
them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. When the
believers in the Name of Christ increased and the pagan people of the city
heard that, they were raged with anger and thought of slaying St. Mark.
The faithful advised him to get away for a short while for the sake of
the safety of the church and its care. St. Mark ordained St. Anianus a
Bishop for Alexandria, three priests and seven deacons. He went to the
Five Western Cities, remained there for two years preaching, and ordained
bishops, priests, and deacons. 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. It came to pass, when he was celebrating the feast of the Resurrection
on the 29th day of Baramudah, year 68 A.D., the same day coincided with
the great pagan Celebration for the feast of the god Syrabis, a multitude
of them 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
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 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
(30th of Baramudah), 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 the hand of God, and received the crown of martyrdom, 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 severe
storm blew 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 him and
place it in a coffin. They laid it in a secret place in this church.
The prayers of this great Saint and honorable Evangelist be with
us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.