His origin was probably from Cyprus, but later he settled in Jerusalem. The Jewish name of the evangelist was John. Marcus was his Roman surname, which he took according to the custom that existed at the time. And with this he became known in the Christian world.
His memory is commemorated by the Church on April 25, but if his feast “falls” during Great Lent, it is moved to Epiphany Tuesday (May 7, 2024).
Mark came from a wealthy family in Jerusalem and had received an excellent education. In the Acts of the Apostles he is referred to as “John the called Mark” (15:2-25, 15:37), but in the New Testament he is generally called Mark.
He was orphaned at an early age, but maintained his family’s financial comfort. In his privately owned residence in Jerusalem, Christ’s disciples gathered from a very early age and according to early church tradition it is possible that the Last Supper took place there.
It is claimed that he watched the last events of the public action of the Lord and could be identified with the young child who was present in the garden of Gethsemane at the arrest of Jesus (Mark iv. 51-52). An opposite opinion is expressed by Papias of Hierapolis, an important figure of the early church period, who points out that Mark “neither listened to the Lord, nor followed him”.
Mark followed Paul on many of his apostolic journeys, as well as Barnabas in Cyprus. According to tradition, he became the first bishop of Alexandria, where he was martyred around 68. His relic was kept in Alexandria until 828, when it was taken by two merchants to Venice and since then it has been kept in St. Mark’s Basilica.
Mark is the author of the second abbreviated Gospel, which, according to tradition, he wrote in Rome around 67, for the sake of the Christians, who came from Gentiles (pagans). In writing he follows in the footsteps of Matthew and according to Papias, he derives his information about Christ from Peter.
The language of Mark’s Gospel exhibits simplicity of style, clarity of expression, and vividness of description. In terms of content, Mark does not deal with the origin of the Lord, nor with the many prophecies that refer to him. He cites his teaching and especially his many miracles to further indoctrinate believers and attract those who have not yet believed.