Sr., was by birth a Jew, and descended of the tribe of Levi. He was converted by some of the apostles, probably by St Peter; to whom he was a constant companion in all his travels, supplying the place of an amanuensis and interpreter. He was by St Peter sent into Egypt, fixing his chief residence at Alexandria, and the places thereabout: where he was so successful in his ministry, that he converted multitudes both of men and women. He afterwards removed westwards, towards the parts of Libya, going through the countries of Marmarica, Pentapolis, and others thereabouts; where, notwithstanding the barbarity and idolatry of the inhabitants, he planted the gospel. Upon his return to Alexandria, he ordered the affairs of that church, and there suffered martyrdom in the following manner. About Easter, at the time the solemnities of Serapis were celebrated, the idolatrous people, being excited to vindicate the honour of their deity, broke in upon St Mark, while he was performing divine service, and, binding him with cords, dragged him through the streets, and thrust him into prison, where in the night he had the comfort of a divine vision. Next day the enraged multitude used him in the same manner, till his spirits failing, he expired under their hands. Some add, that they burnt his body, and that the Christians decently interred his bones and ashes near the place where he used to preach. This happened in the year of Christ 68. Some writers assert, that the remains of St Mark were afterwards, with great pomp, translated from Alexandria to Venice. However, he is the tutelar saint and patron of that republic, and has a very rich and stately church erected to his memory. This apostle is author of one of the four gospels inscribed with his name. See the following article.
St Mark's Gospel, a canonical book of the New Testament, being one of the four gospels.
St Mark wrote his gospel at Rome, where he accompanied St Peter in the year of Christ 44. Tertullian and others pretend, that St Mark was no more than an amanuensis to St Peter, who dictated this gospel to him; others affirm, that he wrote it after St Peter's death. Nor are the learned less divided as to the language it was written in; some affirming that it was composed in Greek, others in Latin. Several of the ancient heretics received only the gospel of St Mark; others, among the Catholics, rejected the 12 last verses of this gospel. The gospel of St Mark is properly an abridgement of that of St Matthew.
St Mark the Evangelist's Day, a festival of the Christian church, observed April 25.
Canons of St Mark, a congregation of regular canons founded at Manua, by Albert Spinola, a priest, towards the end of the 12th century. Spinola made a rule for them, which was approved, corrected, and confirmed by several succeeding popes. About the year 1450 they were reformed, and followed only the rule of St Augustine. This congregation having flourished for the space of 400 years, declined by little and little, and is now become extinct.
Knights of St Mark, an order of knighthood in the republic of Venice, under the protection of St Mark the evangelist. The arms of the order are, gules, a lion winged or; with this device, Pax tibi Marge Evangelista. This order is never conferred but on those who have done signal service to the commonwealth.
Marc, in commerce, denotes a weight used in several states of Europe, and for several commodities, especially gold and silver. In France, the mark is divided into eight ounces, 64 drachms, 192 deniers or penny-weights, 160 écuflins, 300 muids, 642 félins, or 4668 grains. In Holland, the mark weight is also called Troy-weight, and is equal to that of France. When gold and silver are sold by the mark, it is divided into 25 carats. MARK is also used among us for a money of account, and in some other countries for a coin. See Money-Table.
The English mark is two thirds of a pound sterling, or 13s. 4d., and the Scotch mark is of equal value in Scots money of account, viz. 13½d.