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The Coptic Church or the Church of Alexandria is called "Sees of St. Mark"; one of the earliest four sees: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome.

[[File:St. Mark the Evangelist and Beholder of God Image.gif|frame|St. Mark the Evangelist]]

== St. Mark, The Founder ==

The Copts are proud of the apostolicity of their Church, whose founder is St. Mark; one of the seventy Apostles (Mk 10:10), and one of the four Evangelists. He is regarded by the Coptic hierarchy as the first of their unbroken 117 patriarchs, and also the first of a stream of Egyptian martyrs.

This apostolicity was not only furnished on grounds of its foundation but rather by the persistence of the Church in observing the same faith received by the Apostle and his successors, the Holy Fathers.

== St. Mark's Bibliography ==

St. Mark was an African native of Jewish parents who belonged to the Levites' tribe. His family lived in Cyrenaica until they were attacked by some barbarians, and lost their property. Consequently, they moved to Jerusalem with their child John Mark (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37). Apparently, he was given a good education and became conversant in both Greek and Latin in addition to Hebrew. His family was highly religious and in close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His cousin was St. Barnabas and his father's cousin was St. Peter. His mother, Mary, played an important part in the early days of the Church in Jerusalem. Her upper room became the first Christian church in the world where the Lord Jesus Christ Himself instituted the Holy Eucharist (Mk 14:12-26). Also, this is the same place where the Lord appeared to the disciples after His resurrection and His Holy Spirit came upon them.

Young Mark was always associated with the Lord, who choose him as one of the seventy. He is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures in a number of events related with the Lord. For example, he was present at the wedding of Cana of Galilee, and was the man who had been carrying the jar when the two disciples went to prepare a place for the celebration of the Passover (Mk 14:13-14; Lk 22:11).

== St. Mark and The Lion ==
The voice of the lion is the symbol of St. Mark for two reasons:

# He begins his Holy Gospel by describing John the Baptist as a lion roaring in the desert (Mk 1:3).
# His famous story with lion, as related to us by Severus Ebn-El-Mokafa: ''Once a lion and lioness appeared to John Mark and his father Arostalis while they were traveling in Jordan. The father was very scared and begged his son to escape, while he awaited his fate. John Mark assured his father that Jesus Christ would save them and began to pray. The two beasts fell dead and as a result of this miracle, the father believed in Christ.''

== Preaching with the Apostles ==

At first, St. Mark accompanied St. Peter on his missionary journeys inside Jerusalem and Judea. Then he accompanied St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Antioch, Cyprus and Asia Minor, but for some reason or another he left them and returned home (Acts 13:13). On their second trip, St. Paul refused to take him along because he left them on the previous mission; for this reason St. Barnabas was separated from St. Paul and went to Cyprus with his cousin St. Mark (Acts 15:36-41). There, he departed in the Lord and St. Mark buried him. Afterwards, St. Paul needed St. Mark with him and they both preached in Colosse (Col 4:10), Rome (Phil 24; 2 Tim 4:11) and perhaps in Venice.

== In Africa ==

St. Mark's real labor lays in Africa. He left Rome to Pentapolis, where he was born. After planting the seeds of faith and performing many miracles he traveled to Egypt, through the Oasis, the desert of Libya, Upper Egypt and then entered Alexandria from its eastern gate in 61 A.D.

On his arrival, the strap of his sandal was loose. He went to a cobbler to mend it. When the cobbler - Anianos - took an awl to work on it, he accidentally pierced his hand and cried aloud "O One God". At this utterance, St. Mark rejoiced and after miraculously healing the man's wound, took courage and began to preach to the hungry ears of his convert. The spark was ignited and Anianos took the Apostle home with him. He and his family were baptized, and many others followed.

The spread of Christianity must have been quite remarkable because pagans were furious and ought St. Mark everywhere. Smelling the danger, the Apostle ordained a bishop (Anianos), three priests and seven deacons to look after the congregation if anything befell him. He left Alexandria to Berce, then to Rome, where he met St. Peter and St. Paul and remained there until their martyrdom in 64 A.D.

Upon returning to Alexandria in 65 AD, St. Mark found his people firm in faith and thus decided to visit Pentapolis. There, he spent two years preaching and performing miracles, ordaining bishops and priests, and winning more converts.

Finally he returned to Alexandria and was overjoyed to find that Christians had multiplied so much that they were able to build a considerable church in the suburban district of Baucalis.

== His Martyrdom ==

In the year 68 AD, Easter fell on the same day as the Serapis feast. The furious heathen mob had gathered in the Serapis temple at Alexandria and then descended on the Christians who were celebrating the Glorous Resurrection at Baucalis. St. Mark was seized, dragged with a rope through the main streets of the city. Crowds were shouting "The ox must be led to Baucalis," a precipitous place full of rock where they fed the oxen that were used in the sacrifice to idols. At nightfall the saint was thrown into prison, where he was cheered by the vision of an angel, strengthening him saying, "Now your hour has come O Mark, the good minister, to receive your recompense. Be encouraged, for your name has been written in the book of life." When the angel disappeared, St. Mark thanked God for sending His angel to him. Suddenly, the Savior Himself appeared and said to him, "Peace be to you Mark, my disciple and evangelist!" St. Mark started to shout, "O My Lord Jesus" but the vision disappeared.

On the following morning probably during the triumphal procession of Serapis he was again dragged around the city till death. His bloody flesh was torn, and it was their intention to cremate his remains, but the wind blew and the rain fell in torrents and the populaces disperse. Christians stole his body and secretly buried him in a grave that they had engraved on a rock under the altar of the church.

== His Apostolic Acts ==

St. Mark was a broad-minded Apostle. His ministry was quite productive and covered large field of activities. These include:

Preaching in Egypt, Pentapolis, Judea, Asia Minor, and Italy during which time he ordained bishops, priests, and deacons.
Establishing the "School of Alexandria" which defended Christianity against philosophical school of Alexandria and conceived a large number of great Fathers.
Writing the Divine Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist which was modified later by St. Cyril to the Divine Liturgy known today as the Divine Liturgy of St. Cyril.

== Additional History==

St Mark authored the Gospel of St Mark and founded the Church of Alexandria and is considered the Church’s first pope.  St Mark was born in Adenapolis one of the five western cities in northern Africa (Adenapolis, Apollonia, Bitolmais, Toshira, and Birnis). St Mark’s parents were wealthy but as a result of barbarian tribes lost most of their wealth having to depart for the safety of Jerusalem.  At that time this family was not aware of the plan of God waiting upon St Mark in Jerusalem.  According to the book, “Lamp of Darkness” St Mark lived about 89 years and 5 months.  St Mark was martyred on April 26, 68 AD.  With this in perspective, it can be calculated that St Mark was approximately 21 years of age at the time of the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth.  The length of time in which St Mark spent upon the Alexandrian See was 7 years, 8 months, and 1 day. St Mark was one of the seventy apostles and was the apostle whom was appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ to eat the Passover meal at his home.  His home which was known as Zion’s room was also the place where the apostles gathered together following the Crucifixion, the place where the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles as tongues of fire on the Pentecost, and also it is also considered the first church in the entire world. 

== From the Gospels ==

The Holy Gospel recorded the following about our first pope, the apostle, St Mark: (1) The 
Lord Jesus Christ celebrated the Passover with His holy disciples in St Mark’s home (Matthew 26:18, 
Mark 14:13, and Luke 12:10-12). (2) Appearance of the Lord after His Glorious Resurrection to the 
apostles happened in St Mark’s home (John 20:19, Luke 24:33). (3) The coming upon the disciples of 
the Holy Spirit happened in St Mark’s home (Acts 1:13 and 2:1). (4) St Mark was with St Barnabas 
and St Paul 47 AD (Acts 11:27-30). (5) From 47 AD to 49 AD, the first preaching trip involving the 
apostles Paul, Barnabas, Mark, Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos and Perga in Pamphyli (Acts 13:1-13). (6) 
50-52 AD St Mark departed with St Barnabas to Cyprus (Acts 15:39). (7) St Mark was with St Paul in 
Colossi (Colossians 4:10) in 61 AD. (8) 64 AD-66 AD  St Mark departed to Rome for St Paul (2 
Timothy 4:11). (9) When the first Council was held in Jerusalem under the leadership of St James the 
Bishop of Jerusalem, to discuss the acceptance of the Gentiles without circumcision, St Mark attended. 
(10) After St Mark’s preaching with St Barnabas and St Paul, the Holy Spirit led him to preach on his 
own which brought the saint to Egypt.  St Mark is recognized by all Christians world-wide as one of the four Evangelists who wrote a 
Holy Gospel.  In addition, for our beloved Coptic Church, St Mark is also our preacher, our founder of 
the Coptic Church, and our first Pope of the See of St Mark.  Through St Mark, the prophecy spoken of 
in the Holy Book of Isaiah the Prophet has been fulfilled, “…there will be an altar for the Lord in 
Egypt and a pillar at its boundaries…”

== St. Mark the Apostle ==

St Mark was also one of the seventy apostles; therefore our Coptic  Church can be rightly 
termed “apostolic” as it was indisputably founded by one of the original apostles.  Although the 
disciples and the apostles are considered ecumenical or universal bishops for the Church in general, 
every church refers to her initial preacher as her  first bishop and as such, St Mark is the Coptic 
Church’s first bishop of the See of Alexandria. 

== Ecumenical Council ==

St Mark attended the first ecumenical council held in Jerusalem in 51 AD to discuss the topic 
of the relevance of circumcision prior to baptism.  The holy apostles agreed at this ecumenical council 
to accept the Gentiles into the Church without circumcision before baptism (Acts 15:23-30). 
 
Following the council held in Jerusalem, St Mark and St Barnabas journeyed to Cyprus (Acts 
15:36-40) and there the Holy Spirit led St Mark to preach in the Five Western Cities in North Africa.  
Following St Mark’s ministry in North Africa he then journeyed to Egypt.  The date of this founding 
saints’ arrival into Egypt was 55 AD. 
 
== Detailed Account of His Time in Egypt ==

When St Mark came to Egypt, many pagan gods were being worshipped by the Egyptians.  
Some of the gods were considered to be national gods and other idols originated from Greece, Rome, 
Persia, Syria, and Babylonia.  These gods included: (1) Rue:  The god of the sun.  Rue was considered 
by the pagans to be the source of light and warmth.  Heliopolis “Ainshams” was the center of its 
worship and from this center gradually its false teachings were spread throughout all of Egypt. (2) 
Amon:  The invisible god.  Tibha was the center of worship for this particular god.  Later during the 
Egyptian state, Amon was combined with Rue and the combined worship came to be termed Amon 
Rua. (3) Osiris:  The messenger god of love and peace among the people.  This god of peace and love 
originated from Syria. (4) Diana or Artamis:  The god of hunting. (5) Khnoum:  The creator god.  
Tibha was also the center of worship for Khnoum. (6) Anhita:  A popular god which came from Persia. 
 
Also when St Mark journeyed to Egypt, Egypt was considered the second greatest city in the 
world.  Second only to Rome, was Egypt.  Egypt was widely accepted though as first in the world for 
science, art, philosophy, and architecture.  Its school was recognized world-wide as well as the 
professors who taught within it.  For all those seeking knowledge and philosophy Egypt was the place 
to come. 
 
In Alexandria there were Greek philosophers and scholars, Jewish scholars and teachers of 
Scriptures, and Persian wise men.  In addition to all this were the priests.  In Alexandria, there was the 
famous Alexandrian Library considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  This famed 
library contained millions of volumes of books of the greatest philosophers and scholars in the world 
for that time frame. 
 
The Alexandrian population was approximately 600,000.The most famous temple in 
Alexandria among the School and Library was Serabium. In this  temple the idol Serabis was 
worshipped by most of the population.  The Holy Book of Acts 6:9 tells that St Stephen went in dialogue with a Jerusalem Council and 
that some of the council members were from the City of Alexandria.  Also, Apollo, one of the greatest 
preachers in the early Church was from the City of Alexandria as denoted by the Holy Book of Acts 
18:24. Not only was Alexandria the center of civilization for the world, it was also the center for moral 
corruption. 
 
Politically, Egypt was a Roman state under the direct control of the Roman emperor.  
Alexandrians revolted against the Roman authority of Augustus Caesar.  Caesar sent a Roman military 
army of 20,000 to Alexandria to put a halt to the revolution.  The emperor was in dire need of Egypt’s 
wheat.  Putting an end to the revolution would not be the only act of Augustus Caesar.  He also gave 
social and religious freedom to the Jews residing in Alexandria.  This inequality gave rise to many 
disputes and fights among the Jews and Alexandrians. 
 
This is the state of the wonderful City of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 
BC, when St Mark arrived to preach and teach the message of salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
Upon the first day of his arrival, St Mark wandered about the streets of Alexandria until his 
worn shoes fell apart.  St Mark stopped at the first shoemaker shop he approached to have his shoes 
repaired.  The shoemaker’s name was “Anianos” and this shoemaker would later become the second 
pope of Alexandria.   
 
While Anianos was working to repair St Marks’ worn shoes, the needle in which he was using 
to repair the soles of St Mark’s shoes injured his hand and Anianos cried out, “Oh God, the only One!”  
At this exclamation, St Mark spit upon the ground, made mud, and placed the mixture upon Anianos 
finger and healed it immediately.  Discussion ensued between St Mark and Anianos related to his One 
God.  Anianos confessed to St Mark that he had only heard of such God but did not actually know of 
this One God.   
 
St Mark begins to preach to Anianos about the One God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The message 
of salvation through the Holy Cross was taught and welcomed by Anianos and his family.  Anianos 
home is considered the first Church in the land of Egypt. 
 
Within a few short years Christianity had spread throughout the land of Egypt.  Christianity not 
only spread and was accepted, through its teachings the behavior and morals of the Egyptian people 
would also change for the better.   
 
Philon, the Jewish scholar, stated, “St Mark and his disciples did not care about worldly 
matters, but cared about God’s Glory and His salvation to all people.”  The Egyptians became united in 
true “Agape” love and a heavenly peace.  There was no rich or poor classification among the people.  
Everyone lived an economical life; the rich gave unto the poor so everyone could be considered rich 
with God.  The people ate only one time per day after sunset.  Some would fast for three to five days 
without food. 
 
There is disagreement among scholars about the possible visit of St Peter the apostle to St Mark 
in Babylon’s fort where there was a great Jewish colony and from which St Peter wrote his first Holy 
Epistle which concludes with this verse, “…she was in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you 
and so does Mark my son.”  (I Peter 5:13)  Some scholars believe this means Rome.  Regardless, 
there is nothing to contraindicate the possibility of St Peter’s visit to Babylon.  Further, some scholars 
suggest St Simeon the Cannite visited Egypt as well.  To establish the newly growing Church, St Mark, ordained Anianos as a bishop and along with 
this ordained twelve priests and seven deacons.  St Mark at this particular time also wrote his Divine 
Liturgy, now referred to as the “Divine Liturgy of St Cyril.”  St Mark first wrote the Divine Liturgy in 
Greek then it was translated to the language of Behari Coptic.  Three of Anianos assistants were Mlios, 
Kardanos, and Primos.   
 
St Mark founded the School of Alexandria to  counteract the idolatrous school in Alexandria 
which had become world famous for its philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.  
St Mark wrote the Apostles Teachings, Rituals, and Traditions that were specific for the See of 
Alexandria.  Following all of this, St Mark departed Alexandria in 65 AD to further his ministry in the 
Name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Five Western Cities in Northern Africa. 
 
After continuing to strengthen the churches in North Africa, St Mark at St Paul’s request joined 
the apostle in Rome to help in preaching and teaching those there.  St Paul stated in the two Holy 
Books, II Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 1:24 that St Mark was indeed useful for the ministry. 
 
Bishop Anianos, his priests and deacons were known for their honesty, for their ministry, and 
taught through Egypt.  They established the first church in Bokalia now known as “St Mark Church in 
Alexandria.”  St Mark returned to Alexandria around 67 AD, where he wrote his Holy Gospel in Greek 
for the believers in Alexandria. 
 
The great success of St Mark’s evangelism led  to persecution and torture of Christians in 
Alexandria by the idolatrous governors and people of the city.  St Mark was one of the ones who 
would ultimately be put to death because of his ardent belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
On 29 Baramoudah (April 16) 68 AD, St Mark celebrated the Glorious Resurrection Feast with 
the believers which coincided with the Feast of Serabis, as previously mentioned, the most famous of 
idols worshipped in the City of Alexandria.  The idolaters angrily broke into the church and attacked St 
Mark while the saint was praying the Divine Liturgy of the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection at the 
altar.  The crowds of idolaters tied up St Mark with a band around his neck and dragged him into the 
streets of Alexandria.  From one street to another they inhumanely dragged the saint crying and 
screaming “Drag him to the bulls’ house.” 
 
The “bulls’ house” refers to the Bokalia area where the Coptic Church was later built in his 
honor, known as “St Marks’ Church in Alexandria.”  They continued to torture the bleeding St Mark 
until finally he was thrown into prison. The Lord Jesus Christ through a great Heavenly light appeared 
to St Mark and healed him saying, “Be strong My beloved apostle, your heart will be filled with joy.  
Be in peace as tomorrow you will have the crown of martyrdom and  be with Me in the Heavenly 
Jerusalem.” 
 
The following day, the idolaters tied up the apostle once again with a neck bond and dragged 
his body through the streets as they had done before.  This time they drug his body until his head 
separated from his body.  Upon this day, St Mark received three crowns, the crown of apostolicity, the 
crown of evangelism, and the crown of martyrdom.  All the while during his torture, St Mark prayed, 
“Thank you Lord because you have allowed me to suffer persecution and torture for Your Holy 
Name.”  St Mark near his death requested that the Lord forgive those who brought about his death and 
then departed from his earthly existence.    After St Mark’s martyrdom, the idolaters hurriedly brought firewood to burn his body.  A great 
wind suddenly blew, a great rain suddenly fell and the idolaters in fear scattered.  St Mark’s disciples 
came and affectionately carried his holy body and buried him in the Church which carries his name in 
Bokalia.  St Mark’s blood became the first shed in Egypt and millions of martyrs would follow his 
example and chose earthly death rather than deny their Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
This is written in the History of Patriarchs by Bishop Saouris; St Mark was martyred on the last 
day of Baramoudah the year 35 following the Lord Jesus Christ’s Glorious Resurrection on 24 of 
Nissan.  The Coptic Church celebrates his martyrdom on Baramoudah. 
 
A few centuries later, St Mark’s body was stolen by Italian traders and taken to Italy where it 
remained for hundreds of years.  His Holiness Pope Cyril the Sixth succeeded in returning St Marks’ 
holy body to Egypt on 17 Baounah, June 24, l969