St. Mark the Evangelist

John Mark travelled with Paul and Barnabas and later served as St. Peter’s interpreter, and his Gospel is said to record Peter’s preaching. He went to Alexandria, the great city of Egypt, and founded the church there, the first of the Church of Africa. By tradition pagans seized him during the Paschal season, dragged him through the streets with a rope, and he died the next day. The Patriarchs of Alexandria count themselves as his successors.

• Feast: April 25 (New Calendar)
• Lived: died c. 68
• Place: Alexandria
• Relics today: St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice