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The Feast of St Mark

Saturday, April 25, 2026

— days to go

The Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, celebrated on April 25 in the Western Christian tradition, honors Mark the Evangelist, the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark and the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Saint Mark, one of the four Evangelists, is believed to have traveled to Egypt in the 1st century AD, preaching Christianity and establishing the Church in Alexandria, where he served as its first bishop. His Gospel, widely regarded as the earliest of the four canonical gospels, provides a vivid and fast-paced account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The feast is observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, and Coptic Christians, though on different calendar dates. Saint Mark is the patron saint of Venice, where his relics are enshrined in the magnificent St. Mark's Basilica, and of notaries, attorneys, prisoners, and those involved in the glass-making and stained-glass trades.

History

John Mark, traditionally identified as the author of the second Gospel, was a Jewish Christian from Jerusalem who accompanied Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys. According to early Church tradition, after the martyrdom of Saint Peter in Rome, Mark traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, where he founded the Christian Church and served as its first bishop. He was martyred around AD 68, dragged through the streets of Alexandria by pagans opposing his evangelistic work. His body was initially buried in Alexandria but was reportedly stolen by Venetian merchants in 828 and transported to Venice, where the Doge built St. Mark's Basilica to house the relics. The feast on April 25 derives from the traditional date of Mark's martyrdom. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the feast is celebrated on Parmouti 30 of the Coptic calendar, corresponding to approximately April 25. Saint Mark's symbol is the winged lion, representing the majestic and prophetic nature of his Gospel, and the winged lion serves as the iconic symbol of Venice.

How It's Celebrated

The Feast of Saint Mark is observed with liturgical services emphasizing the Gospel message. In Venice, the celebration at St. Mark's Basilica features a solemn Mass with the patriarch of Venice presiding, followed by a traditional regatta on the Grand Canal known as the Festa di San Marco. Venetian men traditionally give a bòcolo, a single rosebud, to their beloved in a custom dating from the 13th century. In Egypt, Coptic Orthodox churches hold special liturgies honoring Saint Mark as the founder of their church, with processions and readings from his Gospel. Throughout the Catholic and Anglican worlds, the feast includes readings from the Gospel of Mark, prayers for evangelists, and blessings for those involved in writing and journalism, as Saint Mark is also the patron of writers and scribes.

Other Years

2021 Sun
25 Apr
2022 Mon
25 Apr
2023 Tue
25 Apr
2024 Thu
4/25
2025 Fri
4/25
2027 Sun
4/25
2028 Tue
4/25
2029 Wed
25 Apr

Countries

🇪🇬 EG

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