Saint Mark's Church In Alexandria (62 A.D.)
Sawirus Ibn Al-Mukaffa, bishop of Al-Ashnumin in the 10th century and writer of the (Histon of the patriarchs of the Egyptian Church), informs us that Saint Mark, after preaching in Alexandria, left for Pentapolis. When he returned after two years, he noticed with joy that the small Christian community, which he founded, had expanded and built a church in a place called (Boucolia) near the sea. As Saint Mark came to Alexandria about 58 A. D., this church was built about 62 A. D., the date of the bishopry of his successor Anianus, according to some historians.
This name (Boucolia) which means (oxen pasturage) was already known. In the time of the Pharaos, the village of Rakotis, before being famous by the name Alexandria, was surrounded by land allotted to shepherds. These peasants had also the task to guard the coast against foreign invaders. In one of these old pasturages, which became a suburb, the first Christians built their modest church. The name of Rhakoti is still surviving in the seal of the Patriarchate in the Coptic language, as the patriotism of the successors of Saint Mark has refused to accept the name of the conqueror on their city.
Meanwhile the heathens were noticing with hatred the progress of the new religion.
Once, while they were celebrating the feast of their god Serapis, which coincided with an Easter Sunday, they took hold of Saint Mark, wrapped him in ropes, and dragged him on the ground, while shouting in derision (drag the bull on the pasturage). When the night came, they put him in jail. Next morning they resumed their barbarous treatment, and when he expired they tried to burn his body in a place called Angelion (The messengers) near the sea. The Christians were able, however, to drag the body before being burnt. They carried it to their church and dug a grave for it on the eastern side. So the first church of Alexandria became soon a (Martyriun); that is a place consecrated by the blood of a martyr.
Dr. Mounir Shoucri (May 19,1908 -April 17,1990): Founder and active member and president of the Society of St- Mina the
wonderworker in Alexandria (Egypt) for nearly 30 Nears (1956- 1986). During this period he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the
service of this Society and to the publication of books, pamphlets, articles and detailed monographs. These are written in Arabic and
they are 86 in number. They all attest to the vast learning and deep erudition of the writer.
We know also from the history of Saint Peter, the 17th. Pope of Alexandria and a martyr, that till the beginning of the
fourth century, it was only a small church, in a place called (Boucolia) near the sea, on the great eastern harbour. It was
the place of the martyrdom and grave of the founder of the papal see of Alexandria, the remains of his successors were
also lying beside him. It was here that bishop Peter was conducted to say a last prayer before the tomb of Saint Mark,
before being conducted to the east of the city to be beheaded (311 A.D.).
The next year, in 312 A.D., under the short patriarchate of Achillas, it was enlarged and embellished, and Arius, the
notorious heresiarch became its priest. The new church had not only the privilege of being the oldest in Alexandria, and
containing the body of the evangelist buried in front of the altar, but was also noted for its situation near the great oriental
harbour and amidst the commercial movement of the city near the Emporium and the Apostases (The docks and stores
situated on the actual Boulevard Zaghlooul).
In 641 the church was burnt. During the fire some of the mobs tried to exhume the body. A captain of a ship had the
audacity to take away the head of the martyr and hide it in his ship. On trying to sail, it was difficult to move the ship in
spite of all efforts, and the captain found himself compelled to confess his theft. The Coptic pope Benjamin went on the
spot to receive the head with due respect. On this occasion he received a big sum of money from Duke Sanutius who told
him (Rebuild Saint Mark's church and pray for us), and the writer of the History of Patriarchs continues (The venerable
patriarch returned to the city..., and ordered that a wooden box with a lock should be made, where he put the head of the
saint, and waited till circumstances would be favourable to build the church).
But the church was rebuilt by John the 3rd, of Sebennytus, the 40th pope of Alexandria (677-686). It was completed in
680, and he died in it while celebrating the mass in 686. A monastery was annexed to it.
In the early days of 828, it was said that two merchants from Venice stole the body, and used special tricks to hide it.
In 1219 the church was demolished. This happened during the reign of El Melik EI-Kamel, the successor of Salah EI-Din,
as he feared that the monastery, fortified as it was, would be of use to the crusaders who besieged Damietta at that time and threatened Alexandria.
It was not before about three centuries later, in 1512, that we could find documents, stating that it was already standing.
In 1527 a certain Pierre Belon du Mans, writing about his visit to Egypt at that time, stated that (There are
some Coptic monks, residing in a place considered as the patriarchate, with their church, on the spot where the body of
Saint Mark was buried some time ago, before being stolen by the Venicians).
The church was destroyed again during the French expedition in 1798, and was rebuilt on the remnants of the tomb of the
Evangelist. Another restoration took place in 1870.
To rebuild it again on a larger and more beautiful style, it was pulled down from roof to bottom in 1952. The decorations
were derived purely front the Coptic art. The crowns of the pillars of the nave were copied from those in the
Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, which are supposed to be the remnants of the ancient St. Mark Church. The
Church was expanded, from the west side, in 1991 during the time of H. H. Pope Shenouda III.
Since more than a century, the governorate of Alexandria has been paying to the Church a yearly nominal value for a
special lamp placed on top of the Church's tower and serving as a lighthouse (for ships).
A tomb where some of the successors of Saint Mark lie, is found under the South West angle of the church.
Copyright © 2005 Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. The above article may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A.
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