The Feast of St Mark (Italy) 2023: Date, History, Facts about St. Mark

St. Mark’s Day is celebrated annually on April 25. It commemorates the anniversary of Saint Mark’s death in 68 A.D., the patron saint of Venice. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches both observe the holiday. The event is also known as the rosebud festival.

The background of The Feast of St Mark (Italy)

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of St. Mark on April 25. It increases awareness of Saint Mark and his efforts to propagate Christianity. The holiday commemorates the death anniversary of St. Mark, who is believed to have been one of the 70 disciples sent by Jesus to Judea to propagate the gospel. He is believed to have written one of the four New Testament Gospels.

St. Mark was a travelling companion and close friend of St. Peter, who possesses the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” In addition, he established the church in Alexandria, Egypt. It is believed that he was murdered by Alexandrians on April 25, 68 A.D., because they resented his efforts to convert them to Christianity and the belief in the one true God.

Two Venetians, with the assistance of some Greek priests, stole the relics of St. Mark from the Abbasid Islamic Caliphate-controlled city of Alexandria in 828 A.D. The thieves smuggled the antiquities out of Alexandria by concealing them in a barrel of pig fat, which they knew the Muslim guards would not examine. Once they arrived in Venice, they interred the relics and constructed St. Mark’s Basilica on top of them. Thousands of people visit the church annually to honour St. Mark.

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5 Interesting St. Mark Facts

St. Mark was St. Peter’s apprentice and travelled with him.

Aristopoulos and Saint Mary of Jerusalem, both evangelists, were St. Mark’s parents.

St. Mark became the bishop of the Alexandrian parish he founded.

St. Mark founded Alexandria’s first Christian institution.

Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark.

THE FEAST OF ST MARK (ITALY) DATES