Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa.

St. Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria in the fourth century. In the days of Constantine he had destroyed a pagan temple and built up the Church; when Julian the Apostate restored idolatry, the aged bishop was seized by the pagans of the city and subjected to prolonged and vicious torments, which he endured with such meekness that even his tormentors marveled.

His patience under suffering became famous throughout the Church, and the fathers held him up as a model of forgiveness toward persecutors. He is commemorated on March 29.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Mark, Bishop of Arethusa is commemorated on March 29. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 11 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Mark, Markos

Also commemorated on March 29

• Savvas of Kalymnos

  Venerable, Σάββας ο εν Καλύμνω

  Venerable Savvas the New of Kalymnos, iconographer and confessor.

• Cyril the Deacon

  Martyr, Κύριλλος ο Διάκονος

  Holy Martyr Cyril the Deacon of Heliopolis, and the martyrs of Ascalon and Gaza.

• Jonah and Barachesios

  Martyr, Ιωνάς και Βαραχήσιος

  Holy Martyrs Jonah and Barachesios and their companions in Persia.

• Diadochos of Photike

  Hierarch, Διάδοχος Φωτικής

  Saint Diadochos, Bishop of Photike in Epirus, spiritual writer.

• Eustathios of Kios

  Hierarch, Ευστάθιος Κίου

  Saint Eustathios the Confessor, Bishop of Kios in Bithynia.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.