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*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/m/ftj08.htm St. Mark Icon and Story]
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Once when Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river, close by the desert, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his son, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered, "Christ, in whose hands our lives are committed, will not let them prey on us." Saying this, he prayed, "O, Christ, Son of God, protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness." Immediately, God granted this prayer, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marvelled and asked his son to tell him about Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who [[baptism|baptized]] him.
After the [[ascension]] of the Lord Christ, Mark accompanied Paul and [[Apostle Barnabas|Barnabas]] to preach in their [[missionary]] journeys, preaching the [[gospel]] in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, and Perga Pamphylia, where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the apostolic council in Jerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus.
After the departure of Barnabas, St. Mark went to Afrikia, Berka, and the five Western cities. He preached the gospel in these parts, and on his account many believed. From there, he went to Alexandria in 61 A.D.
When he entered the city, his shoe was torn because of the amount he had walked during his preaching and [[evangelism]]. He went to a cobbler in the city, called [[Anianusof Alexandria|Anianus]], to repair it. While Anianus was repairing the shoe, the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying "Eis Theos!" which means "O, one God!" When St. Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the one God. The apostle took some clay, spat on it, and applied it to Anianus' finger, saying "in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God," and the wound healed immediately, as if nothing had happened to it.
Anianus was exceedingly amazed by this [[miracle]] that happened in the name of Jesus Christ, and his heart opened to the word of God. The apostle asked him about who was the only God that he cried for when he was injured. Anianus replied "I heard about him, but I do not know him." St. Mark started explaining to him from the beginning, from the creation of heaven and earth all the way to the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ. Anianus then invited him to go to his house and brought to him his children. The saint preached and baptized them.
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/08_30.html Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium (Book of Saints)]
*St. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]], ''The [[Prologue of Ohrid]]''
== See also ==
* [[Missionary]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/mark.html St. Mark the Apostle, Evangelist, and Preacher of the Christian Faith in Africa]
*[http://www.zeitun-eg.net/stcyril6/stcyril6_v18.zip The return of St. Mark Relics from Italy (June 1968 - zipped RealVideo)]
*[http://www.elmorkosia.net/church/history.html Saint-Mark Church Alexandria: History]
*[http://www.voskrese.info/spl/patmark.html Life of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark] by Severus, Bishop of Al-Ushmunain (fl. ca. AD 955-987) translated from the Arabic by B. Evetts (from Patrologia Orientalis, first series); Saint Pachomius Library
[[Category:Biblical Saints|Mark]]
[[Category:Seventy Apostles|Mark]]
[[Category:Martyrs|Mark]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria|Mark]]
[[Category:Saints|Mark]]
[[Category:1st-century saints]]
[[ar:مرقس الرسول]]
[[el:Ευαγγελιστής Μάρκος]]
[[ro:Apostolul Marcu]]
