Commemoration of Saint Mark, The Apostle and Evangelist
November 9,2021
Saint Mark was born of Jewish parents three years after the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Saint Mark was a native of the North Africa county of Libya. He was born in the city of Cyrene in Pentapolis, The western part of Libya, west of the border of Egypt.
Saint Mark’s original name was John and his surname was Mark. As it is stated in the Holy bible, “And when he (peter) came to himself ….., he (Peter) came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many gathered together praying.” (Acts 12:11-12); and “Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.” (Acts 15:37); “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.” (Acts 12:25)
Saint Mark’s parents, Aristopolos his father and Mary his mother, migrated to Palestine shortly after the birth of Saint Mark because of the Berber attacks on their town and property. They settled in Cana of Galilee not far form Jerusalem A few years later Saint Mark’s father died and Peter Simon (Saint Peter), who was married to a relative of Saint Mark’s father took care of Saint Mark and considered him a son: “The Church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you and so does Marcus (Mark) my son”; Peter Simon saw to it that Saint Mark got a good education. Saint Mark studied law and the classics. (1 Peter 5:13)
The Church Traditions state that Mary, Saint Mark’s mother, was admirer of Jesus Christ and followed Him everywhere and that Saint Mark was one of the attendants who served at the feast in Cana of Galilee at which Jesus Christ turned the waster into wine: “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee … and both Jesus and was called and his disciples, to the marriage .. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, … This was the first miracle Jesus did …” (John 2:1-11)
May we be blessed by His grace in his birthday; Amen!
Source: Coptic Orthodox Church