On this Feast of St. Mark we recall that just as St. Luke is associated with the ox, St. John with the Eagle and St. Matthew with man, the Gospel of St. Mark is associated with the lion. One reason stems from the fact that Mark starts his Gospel with a quote from Isaiah prophesying John the Baptist as "a voice of one calling in the desert", much like a roaring lion. Another reason proposed by some is that Mark begins a fast paced narrative that "leaps" into the story of Jesus beginning His ministry with His baptism by John.
The winged lion corresponds with the four living creatures described in Ezekiel 1:10, and in Revelation 4:6-8, which states "...In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around..."
The other Gospel writers are given symbolism derived from this description as well. Matthew is symbolized as a man for his presentation of the humanity of Christ living among us, Luke as an ox representing his burden of work to present an accurate and true account of Christ, and John as an eagle for his portrayal of Christ's "soaring" divinity and power. Many scholars believe Mark wrote his Gospel in the 50's or early 60's (AD). It may have been the first Gospel written.
Mark, who was also known as John Mark, was from a wealthy family in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). Their house served as a meeting place for believers (Ac 12:12). Mark was a close friend and associate of Peter and received much of his Gospel information from him, mostly from Peters preaching to the early Christians.
The relics of St. Mark are in the famous St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice Italy. Venetian merchants, along the Eastern routes, often stopped at Alexandria to pray at St Mark's tomb in 828 A.D. Two Venetian merchants traveling in Alexandria obtained the relics of Saint Mark from priests at the church of Saint Mark, where the saint’s body was interred. The priests feared Saint Mark’s relics might be damaged or destroyed by the Islamic Saracens during the persecution of the Catholic community in Alexandria. Promising to safeguard the saint’s relics, the merchants convinced the priests to allow them to return to Venice with the body of Saint Mark.
“The body of Saint Mark was taken out of the sarcophagus and unwrapped from its silk shroud, the relic being substituted by another and less eminent saint. It was then placed in a chest and taken on board the Venetian ship, the merchants first ensuring that the saint’s remains were covered by a layer of pork and cabbage.
When the Muslim officials asked to inspect the chest, they cried out ‘Kanzir, kanzir’ (Oh horror) at the sight and smell of the pork. . . . Thus the evangelist was safely conveyed to Venice, but not before a number of miracles eased his passage across the Mediterranean.”
The Doge (governor) of Venice had a church built as his tomb, which was completed in 832 AD. It burned and was rebuilt in 978 AD. The original church has been modified many times over the centuries.
Above the entrance of the Cathedral of St. Mark in Venice we see a statue of a lion with its paw on an open book that contains the text "Pax tibi, Marce, Evangelista meus." This Latin phrase translates as "Peace be upon you, O Mark, my Evangelist." The Gospel of St Mark, which roars like a mighty lion, represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb), and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation. St Mark pray for us.
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