Saint Mark the Evangelist

Saint Mark the Evangelist (1st century AD) was one of the Seventy Apostles and the author of the Second Gospel, the shortest and most vivid of the four Gospels. He was a close disciple and interpreter of the Apostle Peter, whose preaching he recorded in his Gospel, and a companion of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas on their early missionary journeys.

Saint Mark founded the Church of Alexandria in Egypt, which became one of the great patriarchates of the ancient Church. He is venerated as the first Bishop of Alexandria and the father of African Christianity. He was martyred in Alexandria around 68 AD, dragged through the streets by a mob for his preaching of the Gospel.

Saint Mark is depicted in icons with a lion — his Gospel symbol — representing the royal dignity of Christ and the boldness of his proclamation. His relics were later translated to Venice, where the magnificent Basilica of Saint Mark was built in his honor. His feast day is April 25. Browse our handcrafted Orthodox icons and devotional items honoring Saint Mark the Evangelist, made in our Ohio workshop using traditional Byzantine embroidery techniques.