Definition

Proper noun 1. Saint Mark (also called Mark the Evangelist): A central figure in early Christianity, traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of Mark. He is considered an apostle and a companion of Saint Peter. His symbol in art is a winged lion.

Usage Notes

• Capitalization: Always capitalized as "Saint Mark" when referring to the specific historical/religious figure.
• Context: Used primarily in religious, historical, and artistic contexts. In general conversation, it most commonly refers to the biblical author or a namesake church or location (e.g., St. Mark's Square in Venice).
• Forms: Often abbreviated as "St. Mark" or "St Mark".

Examples

• Religious/Historical Context:
  • The feast day of Saint Mark is celebrated on April 25th.
  • Early church tradition holds that Saint Mark founded the Church of Alexandria.
  • The second book of the New Testament is the Gospel according to Saint Mark.
• Cultural/Geographical Context:
  • We visited the Basilica di San Marco, dedicated to Saint Mark.
  • The famous St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice.

Advanced Usage

• Patron Saint: Saint Mark is the patron saint of notaries, lawyers, and Venice, Italy.
  • Venice reveres Saint Mark as its patron.
• Symbolism: In iconography, Saint Mark is often depicted with a winged lion, representing the power and majesty of Christ's resurrection as described in his Gospel's opening verses.
  • The emblem of the Saint Mark is the winged lion.

Variants and Related Words

• Mark the Evangelist: A synonymous title emphasizing his role as a Gospel writer.
• Gospel of Mark (or Mark's Gospel): The book of the Bible attributed to him.
• Markan (adj): Pertaining to the Gospel of Mark or its theological style (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Mark the Evangelist
• John Mark (a name sometimes used in biblical scholarship linking him to a figure in the Acts of the Apostles)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Lion of Saint Mark: Refers specifically to the symbolic winged lion representing the saint and, by extension, the city of Venice.
  • The flag of Venice features the Lion of Saint Mark.

Noun

1. Apostle and companion of Saint Peter; assumed to be the author of the second Gospel