Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.
Saint Mark.
Pope.
Confessor.
Feast Day 7 October.
Simple.
White Vestments.
Pope Saint Mark (336 A.D.).
Source:
(“Pope's Photo Gallery”).
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless otherwise stated.
Pope Mark (Latin: Marcus) was Head of The Catholic Church from 18 January 336 A.D. to 7 October 336 A.D.
Little is known of his early life. According to “The Liber Pontificalis”, he was a Roman, and his father's name was Priscus. Some evidence suggests that the Early Lists of Bishops and Martyrs, known as “The Depositio Episcoporum and Depositio Martyrum”, were begun during his Pontificate.
Per “The Liber Pontificalis”, Pope Mark issued a Constitution investing The Bishop of Ostia with a Pallium and confirming his power to Consecrate newly-elected Popes. Also per “The Liber Pontificalis”, Pope Mark is credited with the Foundation of The Basilica of San Marco, in Rome, and a Cemetery Church over the Catacomb of Balbina, just outside the City, on lands obtained as a donation from Emperor Constantine.
Mark died of natural causes and was buried in the Catacomb of Balbina. In 1048, his remains were removed to the Town of Velletri, and, from 1145, were relocated to The Basilica of San Marco, in Rome, where they are kept in an urn under the Altar. His Feast Day is Celebrated on 7 October.
The following Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.
Mark, a Roman, occupied The Holy See for eight months during the Reign of Emperor Constantine the Great.
He succeeded Pope Saint Sylvester I and continued, with great zeal, the organisation of The Church that had been commenced by his predecessor thanks to the long era of peace inaugurated by the Emperor. He died in 336 A.D.
Mass: Sacerdótes.
As Zephyrinus knows, this saint, the Pope and saint named after Mark the Evangelist, had a brief pontificate (only from January until 7 October 336; but he importantly appears to be responsible for the Roman history of the martyrs and early bishops, realizing the risk of losing these important records to the mists of history. He also commenced the building of the very ancient stational church (Monday, 3rd Week of Lent) named for S. Mark the Evangelist, his namesake, —Which many visitors to Rome easily overlook because it is in its own little piazza, Piazza San Marco, at the foot of the commanding monument called the “Wedding Cake,” the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II. The San Marco church is a beautiful now-Baroque style sanctuary, titled “San Marco al Campidoglio,” (to distinguish it from the many other similarly-named churches throughout Italy) that has somehow survived the many conflagrations and wars that have winnowed and leveled Rome through the centuries: (Hopefully this image is visible to the reader:)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=c1VhKdIh&id=253941607D3A70966C4F8B89044AFDD7EBA26CAB&thid=OIP.c1VhKdIhxugrfwIoeGN8qwHaH2&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fc0%2F5e%2F63%2Fc05e6317c25878e1c745bcf0def54176.jpg&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.73556129d221c6e82b7f022878637cab%3Frik%3Dq2yi69f9SgSJiw%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=3395&expw=3200&q=San+Marco+Evangelista+al+Campidoglio%2c+Rome&simid=608004698125914684&form=IRPRST&ck=D910D9C0C848AC97B9CC165509D45CBF&selectedindex=5&itb=0&pc=EMMX04&vt=4&sim=11
The relics of Pope S. Mark, after first being buried in the Catacombs of S. Balbina outside the city limits of Rome, were transferred for safety about 1048 AD to a church in Velletri in the Alban Hills about 40 km from Rome; and then finally to the basilica he himself originally built in 1145 AD, where the basilica somehow survived the sacks of Rome by Robert Guiscard (1084 AD) and Charles V (1527 AD) and the order to destroy Rome by Hitler (The “Nero Order”, 19 March 1945), and where they are now venerated in an urn underneath the main altar to this day.
As this comment has mentioned before, this is one of those beautiful little quiet churches that remain unproven and virtually untouched since it’s the last Baroque and Neoclassical era rebuildings starting in 1654 and finally ending in 1750 AD.
This is one of those wonderful Saints and basilicas that have survived for almost 2000 years, and that remind you, despite the swirling turbulent currents of history, the Catholic Faith will survive. (“Stat crux dum volvitur orbis” ("The cross is stands fixed while the globe continues to turn"). -Note by Dante P
Another in-depth and much valued contribution from Dante P, our Rome Archaeological Correspondent.
DeleteThank you, Dante P.
With such a wonderful description, this lovely Church should now be on every visitor's “must see” list whilst in Rome.