(From the Prologue from Ochrid)
Mark was a companion and helper of the Apostle
Peter in his journeys. Peter, in his first Epistle calls him his
son, not according to the flesh but a son according to the spirit
(1 Peter 5:13). When Mark was with Peter in Rome, the
faithful begged him to write down for them the saving knowledge
of the Lord Jesus, His miracles and His life. So Mark wrote his
Holy Gospel which the Apostle Peter himself saw and testified to
as true. Mark was chosen by the Apostle Peter to be bishop, and
sent to Egypt to preach. As so Mark was the first preacher of the
Gospel and the first bishop in Egypt. Egypt was oppressed by a
thick darkness of paganism, idolatry, divination and malice. But
with the help of God, St. Mark succeeded in sowing the seed of
the knowledge of God in Libya, Ammonicia and Pentopolis. From
Pentopolis, he went to Alexandria, whither the Spirit of God led
him. In Alexandria, he succeeded in establishing the Church of
God, in giving her bishops, priests and deacons and in rooting
everything firmly in faithfulness and devotion. Mark confirmed
his preaching with many and great miracles. When the pagans
brought accusations against Mark, as a destroyer of their
idolatrous faith, and when the governor of the city began to
search for Mark, he fled again to Pentopolis, where he continued
his earlier work. After two years, Mark again returned to
Alexandria, to the great joy of his faithful, whose number had
already increased very greatly. The pagons took the opportunity
to seize Mark, and they bound him firmly and began to drag him
over the cobblestones crying: "We're taking the ox to the
stall!" They threw him into prison all injured and
bloodstained where there apeared to him first, an angel from
heaven, who encouraged and strengthened him, and then the Lord
Himself. Jesus said to him: "Peace to thee Mark My
Evangelist!", to which Mark replied: "And peace to
thee, my Lord Jesus Christ!" On the next day, the wicked
people hauled Mark from prison and again dragged him through the
streets with the same cry: "We're taking the ox to the stall!"
Utterly spent and enfeebled, Mark said: "Into Thy hands, O
Lord, I commend my spirit," an thus breathed his last and
went to the better world. His holy relics were given burial by
Christians, and through the ages they give healing to people from
every pain and ill.
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