Who Was St. Mark

St. Mark was more than a watcher in Jesus’ story—he was a helper for Christ. As a young teen, some say around 13 or 14, he lived in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time. His mother’s house was a meeting place for Christians, where apostles like Peter prayed (Acts 12:12). Tradition says one night, Jesus sent disciples to find “a man carrying a jar of water” (Mark 14:13)—that was Mark! He led them to his family’s upper room, preparing bread and wine for the Passover. There, Christ began the Eucharist, and Mark watched in awe as God’s plan unfolded.

That room became holy. After Jesus’ death, apostles hid there (Acts 1:13), and Mark helped, fetching water or bread. At Pentecost, some say Mark saw the Holy Spirit come like wind and fire (Acts 2:1–4), filling him with awe. Tradition holds he was one of the seventy apostles sent by Jesus (Luke 10:1), and some say he quietly helped Peter, carrying news through Jerusalem. Copts see Mark as a bridge to Christ, and Ethiopians honor his role through Alexandria’s Church. For Orthodox children, Mark’s small tasks for Christ show how serving God, even in little ways, grows into a big mission, like writing his Gospel.