St. Mark the Evangelist

John Mark, in whose mother’s house in Jerusalem the Church met to pray, a cousin of Barnabas who went with Paul on the first journey and turned back, and whom Paul later asked for because he was useful. Papias records that he became Peter’s interpreter and wrote down Peter’s preaching, which is why his Gospel is short, urgent and full of the things an eyewitness remembers. The Church of Alexandria calls itself the see of St Mark: by its tradition he founded it and was dragged to his death through its streets around 68. His relics were taken to Venice in 828. Feast: April 25.