1. The Apostle ST. MARK

2. Common Pictures of St. Mark. Do you see any similarities?

3. FACTS He was a Jew Born: Cyrene in the Pentapolis of North Africa, in what is now Libya Father: Aristopolis Mother: Mary (served Jesus out of her own money) Uncle: Barnabas 2 Names: John- Jewish name meaning Kindness of God Mark- Latin name meaning Hammer

4. Languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew Chosen by Christ to be one of the 70 apostles

5. Mark’s House First Church in Christianity. Why?? Christ observed Passover with His disciples Christ washed His disciples’ feet Christ instituted the Eucharist The disciples met for prayer after Resurrection and before Pentecost The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost St. Peter went when the angel released him from the prison

6. The LION…why? 1. On their way to Jordan, St. Mark and his father were faced by 2 beasts (a lion and a lioness). The father realized that they were going to be devoured by the beasts and asked his son to escape. St. Mark prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the lions miraculously dropped dead. This event led the artists to insert a lion in all St. Mark’s icons.

7. 2. He started his Gospel with the roar of a lion: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness” 3. His Gospel represents the Lord Jesus Christ in His majesty and Kingdom as He is “the lion of the tribe of Judah”

8. A Missionary 1 st journey: accompanied St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey but left them at Pamphilia and returned to Judea. 2 nd journey: went with St. Barnabas to Cyprus.

9. Regarding the Church He is the founder of the church in Egypt He ordained Anianus as Bishop for Alexandria with 12 priests and 7 deacons

10. His Body On Easter eve, 68 A.D., he was seized by the pagan mob and was dragged around the city of Alexandria until he passed away. He received the crowns of: Apostleship Evangelism Martyrdom

11. Return of his body (1968) 17 th of Baounah of the year 1684 A.M. (Monday, June 24, 1968 A.D.) the tenth year of the papacy of Pope Kyrillos the Sixth (116th Pope of Alexandria) the relics of St. Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of the Egyptian land and the first Patriarch of Alexandria, were returned to Egypt.

12. Christ was St. Mark’s Life Christ is OUR life ST. MARK knew Christ through His teachings and witness the incidents in his house (upper room). WE need to know Christ through His teachings as recorded in the bible. The upper room is my heart where God resides in it if it is cleansed with repentance.

13. Succession our church patriarchs until the present HH Pope Shenouda III Christ breathed upon the Holy Disciples

14. John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

15. Questions: What were his two names? Name two reasons why his house was the first church in Christianity. Name one reason why there is a li0n in the picture of St. Mark.