Saint Mark

Mark, evangelist and apostolic co-worker, also called John Mark, served with Paul and Barnabas and later with Peter. He composed the Gospel according to Mark, drawing on Peter’s testimony. He brought the gospel to Alexandria and founded the Church there, serving as its first bishop. As such, the Coptic Church honors him as the founder and first pope of the See of St. Mark. He was martyred in Alexandria, traditionally dragged through the streets during a pagan festival (c. AD 68). His symbol is the winged lion, and his relics were later brought to Venice, with portions returned to Egypt in the 20th century by Pope saint Cyril VI of Alexandria.