Apostle
Evangelist Mark
Apostle and Evangelist Mark
New Calendar April 25 Old Calendar May 8
Why they are a saint
Mark was an idolater from Cyrene of Pentapolis, which is near Libya. Having come to the Faith of Christ through the Apostle Peter, he followed him to Rome. While there, at the prompting of Peter himself and at the request of the Christians living there, he wrote his Gospel in Greek… Afterwards, travelling in Egypt, he preached the Gospel there and was the first to establish the Church in Alexandria.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Evangelist Mark as a patron when they bear the name and at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on April 25. As an apostle, he is also asked to pray for missionaries and those who spread the Gospel.
Prayer
O holy Evangelist Mark, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.