St. Mark the Evangelist: Life, Gospel, Martyrdom and Feast Day
Quick answer
St. Mark the Evangelist is traditionally identified with the John Mark of the Acts of the Apostles, a companion of Sts. Paul, Barnabas and Peter. Early Christian writers say his Gospel preserves the preaching of St. Peter. Tradition holds that he founded the Church of Alexandria and died there as a martyr. His feast is April 25.
Key takeaways
- The New Testament mentions a John Mark whose mother's house in Jerusalem was a meeting place for the first Christians (Acts 12:12).
- Mark left Paul and Barnabas partway through a missionary journey, but he and Paul were later reconciled.
- Early writers such as Papias describe Mark as St. Peter's interpreter.
- His symbol, the winged lion, is the emblem of the city of Venice, where his relics were taken in 828.
St. Mark gave the Church its shortest Gospel, and he is also one of the first Christians we know of who failed, was forgiven and tried again.
What the New Testament Tells Us
Most Christians since ancient times have identified the Evangelist with the man called John Mark in the Acts of the Apostles.
- His mother’s house in Jerusalem was a place where believers gathered to pray. When an angel freed St. Peter from prison, he went straight there (Acts 12:12).
- He was a cousin of St. Barnabas (Colossians 4:10).
- He set out with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but turned back partway (Acts 13:13).
A Falling Out and a Reconciliation
When Paul planned a second journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark again. Paul refused, and the disagreement was so sharp that the two went their separate ways (Acts 15:36-40).
The story has a happy ending. Years later, Paul mentions Mark as a fellow worker (Philemon 24), and he asks Timothy to bring Mark because “he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11, Douay-Rheims).
St. Peter also calls him “my son” (1 Peter 5:13), a sign of a close relationship.
Mark and St. Peter
Early Christian writers consistently link Mark’s Gospel to St. Peter. Papias, a bishop writing in the early second century, said that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and carefully wrote down what he remembered of Peter’s teaching. This may be one reason that Mark’s Gospel does not spare Peter’s failures.
The Gospel of Mark
Mark’s Gospel is brief and full of movement. The word “immediately” appears again and again. It has a vivid, eyewitness feel. Jesus is shown as a man of action, with deep human feeling, moving steadily toward the Cross.
The whole Gospel is built around a question: Who is this man? It is answered by Peter’s confession (Mark 8:29) and, at the foot of the Cross, by a Roman centurion: “Indeed this man was the son of God” (Mark 15:39, Douay-Rheims).
The Catechism teaches that the Gospels are “the heart of all the Scriptures” because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of Jesus (CCC 125).
Some readers think that Mark may be the young man who fled naked when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52), since only his Gospel mentions it. This is an interesting guess, and it cannot be proved.
Alexandria and Venice
According to tradition recorded by Eusebius, Mark brought the Gospel to Alexandria in Egypt and founded the Church there. Later accounts say that he was martyred there. The Coptic Church still honors him as its founder.
In 828, Venetian merchants carried relics they believed to be his from Alexandria to Venice, where the great Basilica of San Marco was raised in his honor. His winged lion became the emblem of the city.
A Prayer to St. Mark (Original Prayer)
St. Mark, you stumbled and began again. Pray for all who have turned back from God’s work, that they may be welcomed home. Give me love for the Gospel and the courage to say with the centurion: Truly this is the Son of God. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read our guide to the Catholic Bible, or learn about St. Matthew, another of the four Evangelists.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. Mark?
April 25.
Why is St. Mark's symbol a lion?
His Gospel begins with John the Baptist as a voice crying in the wilderness (Mark 1:3), which early Christians compared to the roar of a lion. The four evangelist symbols come from the living creatures in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4.
Which Gospel is the shortest?
The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four, with sixteen chapters.
What is St. Mark the patron saint of?
He is the patron of Venice and of notaries, and he is also honored as the founder of the Church in Egypt.
Sources
- Acts 12:12, 12:25, 13:5, 13:13, 15:36-40; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24; 1 Peter 5:13
- Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, quoting Papias
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 125-127
