First Half A
St. Mark once left the ministry. Which two Saints had a dispute regarding this issue?
When did St. Mark leave Lybia and arrive to Alexandria?
He left Libya heading towards Egypt and arrived to Alexandria in 61 AD.
What is the title given to St. Mark in the Ritual books (specifically in the prayers and praises)?
Mark the apostle, is the title given to this Saint in the Ritual books, specifically in all the prayers and praises.
When did the relics of St. Mark reach Venice?
When the relics reached Venice in 828 AD, Duke Justinian, the ruler, built a splendid sanctuary for the relics.
When is the Feast of St. Mark?
The feast of St. Mark is on day 30 of the Coptic month, Baramoda.
What Saint other than St. Peter was a known relative of St. Mark?
Another saint other than St. Peter that was a known relative to St. Mark was St. Thomas the Apostle. Bishop Yousab of Fouwa, in his book, "The History of The Patriarchs", wrote that St. Mark was related to St. Thomas the Apostle.
What is said in the Praxis about St. Mark?
In the [Praxis], we say, " Peace be with you O martyr, peace for the Evangelist, peace for the apostle and peace for the Beholder of God."
What are the 3 individual great works of St. Mark?
The three individual great works of St. Mark include: his Gospel, his Liturgy, and the establishment of the Theological School of Alexandria.
Who was designated to manage the Theological School that was established by St. Mark?
St. Mark established a Theological School to stand against the school for the pagans and to combat their ideas. He designated St. Justus to manage the school who later became the sixth bishop of Alexandria.
After St. Mark established the church in Alexandria was was he advised to leave? Who was seeing to kill him?
After he established the church in Egypt, he was advised by the believers to leave Egypt temporarily as they were concerned about his safety. The pagans were thinking of killing him. He accepted to leave and return after a while.
What significance does the year 1968 have regarding St. Mark?
The significance of the year 1968 is when the book was written. It was written on the occasion of the return of the relics of St. Mark to Egpyt and the establishment of the Saint Mark Great Cathedral at Anba Ruweis in Cairo.
What was Alexandria when St. Mark arrived there?
Alexandria was the cultural capital of the world when St. Mark arrived there. Its famous School was the centre of science and philosophy with a library filled with hundreds of thousands of books. The population of Alexandria was estimated to be from half to three quarters of a million,(1) who were Egyptians, Greeks, Jews, Romans, Ethiopians, Nubians and other races.
What quote do patriarchs repeat on the day of their ordination?
At the ordination of the Patriarchs in Egypt, they repeat, "The seat of St. Mark, the Evangelist, with the true knowledge that he called for in all the universe for the comfort and soul saving."
What was the miracle told by the people of Venice?
It was said that while he was preaching along the Adriatic sea, his ship was pushed into shallow waters along the coast by a strong storm. Mark, then saw an angel who told him that a big city will be established there and named after him. Four hundred years later, the people in this area came to these coastal islands and built Venice.
What group of women was St. Mark’s mother a part of?
His mother was one of the "Marys" who followed Christ. The believers gathered and prayed at her house, at the time of the Apostles. [Acts 12:12] She was a reverend woman and highly regarded by the early Christians. His mother Mary also hosted Christ in her house and was among the women who served Him.
List five things that happened in the home of St. Mark.
It was there where Lord Jesus Christ observed the passover with his pure disciples.
There He washed their feet and gave them His Covenant, His Holy Body and Blood. He instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, making it the first church in the world.
That was where the disciples hid before the resurrection.
In it, the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and they spoke in tongues.
The believers gathered and prayed at this house. The upper chamber in St. Mark's home, where the disciples of God assembled, was mentioned, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." [Acts 1: 14]
What was the last that was reported about St. Mark’s head?
The last of what was reported about the head was in reference to the life of Pope Peter VI [104]. It was stated that he went to Alexandria, kissed the head of St. Mark the Evangelist. When he was about to leave Alexandria, he heard that some people from Alexandria, or possibly from Venice were planning to take the head, so he hid it in the monastery, may be in the church in eastern Alexandria which was called then as the monastery.
What was St. Mark’s first miracle?
St. Mark’s first miracle was on their way to Jordan. They were faced by two beasts, a lion and lioness. The father realized that they would be eaten soon by the beasts. He urged his son to escape, and leave himself to the lions. Mark assured him that Christ would protect them and prayed saying, "O' Christ the Son of God, save us." Immediately the lions perished and they were saved. Arstopolis accepted Christ immediately through his son and confessed his faith. The father died later as a believer.
When did St. Mark ordain Anianus to be the Bishop of Alexandria? How many priests and deacons were also ordained at that time?
He then ordained St. Anianus to be the Bishop of Alexandria in 62 AD. He also ordained three priests, Milius, Sabinus, Sardenus, and seven deacons.(10) It is noticed that Anianus was ordained a bishop while St. Mark was still living, which indicates St. Mark's apostolic universal authority to ordain bishops wherever he went, as he did in the Five Western Cities
What happened to the body of St. Mark after being separated from the head? Who took the body and when?
The Melchites [The Roman Melchites with the two natures ] took the body and the Subterranean Monastery. Later the Venetians stole the body. Accordingly, the Roman Melchites had the body in Pokalia church, that is the church which was taken by them with force in the sixth century. Abu Al Makarem falsely said that the Copts let the Romans have the body when the churches were divided among the Copts and the Melchites. The stealing of the body happened between 828 and 829 AD, or may be in 815.
Where and how did St. Mark meet the Lord and become one of His disciples?
It was mentioned that some barbaric tribes attacked the family's properties in Gyréne, at the time of Augustus Caesar, that forced them to emigrate to Palestine. By the time Lord Christ began His teaching, the family was already settled there. That was how Mark met The Lord and became one of his disciples. His mother Mary also hosted Him in her house and was among the women who served Him. It was mentioned that Mark was at the Wedding of Cana of Galilee, where God did His first miracle, changing the water into wine [John 2]. He was among those who tasted it.
How did the pagans arrest St. Mark?
The crowd attacked the church at the time St. Mark just completed the Eucharist. They pushed away the congregation and arrested him and with a long strong rope they put around his neck, they pulled him along the streets and the roads of the city. With extreme cruelty they kept pulling him over the rough rocky surface of the streets that his flesh was cut into pieces 51 with the blood all over the roads. The Saint thanked God who made him worthy to suffer in His name. By the end of the day, they got tired, and they threw him in a dark prison.
Who directed the apostles in their preaching and in what book of the Holy Bible is this shown?
It is known that the Holy Spirit directed the apostles in their preaching. This was shown in the Book of Acts, where it was mentioned that St. Paul and his company, after going through Phrygia and Galatia, were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Asia. When they arrived to Mysia, they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them. During the night, when St. Paul saw a man from Macedonia in a vision pleading for help, he realized that the Holy Spirit was guiding them and God was calling them to go and preach [Acts 16:6 -10].
What happened to the head of St. Mark in 644 AD?
Both the head and the body were buried in the church at Pokalia in his coffin till the year 644 AD, This church was known as the Cave or the Subterranean Monastery. It was in the eastern part of Alexandria, near the huge rocky area, where he was killed. History recorded that the head [skull] of St. Mark was stolen or a sailor attempted to steal it during the Arab Conquest in 644 AD. In our Synaxarium on Toba 8, this was mentioned as: "the captain of the ship entered the church and put his hand in the coffin of St. Mark and touched the body of St. Mark. Realizing that it belonged to a great person, he took the head and hid it in his boat."
Name a Christian denomination that recognized St. Mark’s apostleship.
A Christian denominaton that recongnized St. Mark’s apostleship are the Catholic. It is shown in the Theotokion where it is said:
a) "O Mark the apostle the evangelist... all earth's tribes are blessed by you. Your words reached everywhere." The last phrase was taken from Psalms 18:4, which gives the idea that his service was more universal than regional.
b) "Three heavenly names you were awarded O Mark, the theologian, the evangelist and the apostle. You had been awarded three crowns O belover of God : the crown, you had as an apostle, the crown of martyrdom and the crown of evangelism."
c) " Your fellow apostles are proud of you and we are proud of them and you." The words of his fellows made him on the same line of the apostles and the fellowship bound them as equal.