The Feast of St. Mark (Italy) 2023: St. Mark’s Day is celebrated annually on April 25. It commemorates the anniversary of Saint Mark’s death in 68 A.D., the patron saint of Venice. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches both observe the holiday. The event is also known as the rosebud festival.
History of Saint Mark’s Day (Italy)
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of St. Mark on April 25. It increases awareness of Saint Mark and his efforts to propagate Christianity. The holiday commemorates the death anniversary of St. Mark, who is believed to have been one of the 70 disciples sent by Jesus to Judea to propagate the gospel. He is believed to have written one of the four New Testament Gospels.
St. Mark was a travelling companion and close friend of St. Peter, who possesses the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” In addition, he established the church in Alexandria, Egypt. It is believed that he was murdered by Alexandrians on April 25, 68 A.D., because they resented his efforts to convert them to Christianity and the belief in the one true God.
Two Venetians, with the assistance of some Greek priests, stole the relics of St. Mark from the Abbasid Islamic Caliphate-controlled city of Alexandria in 828 A.D. The thieves smuggled the antiquities out of Alexandria by concealing them in a barrel of pig fat, which they knew the Muslim guards would not examine. Once they arrived in Venice, they interred the relics and constructed St. Mark’s Basilica on top of them. Thousands of people visit the church annually to honour St. Mark.
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HOW TO OBSERVE ST. MARK’S FEAST (Italy)
Eat Italian cuisine
Participate in Italian culture in observance of Saint Mark’s Day. Enjoy the delectable Italian cuisine available in your area.
Attend church
Attend religious services or masses. Recognise and celebrate the contributions of various martyrs to the Christian cause.
Discover about St. Mark
On the feast of St. Mark, conduct some investigation on St. Mark. Discover the locations of his travels and teachings.
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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ST. MARK
He journeyed with Saint Peter.
St. Mark was St. Peter’s apprentice and travelled with him.
His parents were evangelists
Aristopoulos and Saint Mary of Jerusalem, both evangelists, were St. Mark’s parents.
He served as a bishop.
St. Mark became the bishop of the Alexandrian parish he founded.
He established an institution
St. Mark founded Alexandria’s first Christian institution.
He was an author.
Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark.
WHY THE FEAST OF ST MARK IS IMPORTANT IN ITALY
He was an innovator.
St. Mark travelled to Africa to disseminate the Christian message during a time when no one else was willing to venture to the vast continent. In Alexandria, he also founded a church and a school.
He preserved the past
St. Mark’s writings have served as crucial historical references. They have contributed to the preservation of Christ’s life and teachings.
He was a teacher
St. Mark enjoyed imparting his knowledge to others. Therefore, he founded a Christian school in Alexandria and taught there.
THE FEAST OF ST MARK (ITALY) DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 25 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | April 25 | Thursday |
| 2025 | April 25 | Friday |
| 2026 | April 25 | Saturday |
| 2027 | April 25 | Sunday |
