Saint Mark the Evangelist

Saint Mark the Evangelist was one of the four Gospel writers and a close companion of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the early Church. He is traditionally believed to be the young man mentioned in the Gospel of Mark who fled from Gethsemane on the night of Jesus’ arrest (Mark 14:51–52). Born in Cyrene (modern-day Libya) and later associated with Jerusalem, Mark became a vital missionary, spreading the Gospel message across the Mediterranean. Saint Mark’s Gospel, likely the earliest written of the four, emphasizes the immediacy of Jesus’ actions and His authority as the Son of God. Ancient tradition holds that Mark founded the Church in Alexandria, Egypt, making him the first bishop of one of Christianity’s most important centers. He is revered as a bold proclaimer of Christ who strengthened the faith of persecuted Christians.