Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria)
Encyclopedia
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria
is the historical seat
of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
in 60 AD.
St. Mark the Evangelist
(author of the second Gospel) has been connected with the city of Alexandria
since earliest Christian tradition. Coptic Christians believe he arrived in Alexandria around 60 AD and stayed for about seven years.
During this time, Mark converted many to Christianity
and performed many miracles. He is considered the founder of the church in Alexandria and the first Bishop of Alexandria. According to tradition, St. Mark was arrested during a festival of Serapis
in 68 AD and martyred by being dragged through the streets. He was buried under the church he had founded.
The head of St. Mark was moved around a great deal over the centuries, and has been lost for over 250 years. Some of the relics from the body of St. Mark, however, were returned to Alexandria from Rome
in 1968 during the papacy of Pope Cyril VI.
The present St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral is of recent date, but is said to stand on the site of church founded by St. Mark himself.
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
is the historical seat
Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria
The Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria is historically based in Alexandria, Egypt. It is commonly known as the Holy See of St. Mark, as the Coptic Pope is the successor of St. Mark....
of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Beginning
The cathedral is said to stand on the site of the church founded by St. Mark the EvangelistMark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
in 60 AD.
St. Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
(author of the second Gospel) has been connected with the city of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
since earliest Christian tradition. Coptic Christians believe he arrived in Alexandria around 60 AD and stayed for about seven years.
During this time, Mark converted many to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and performed many miracles. He is considered the founder of the church in Alexandria and the first Bishop of Alexandria. According to tradition, St. Mark was arrested during a festival of Serapis
Serapis
Serapis or Sarapis is a Graeco-Egyptian name of God. Serapis was devised during the 3rd century BC on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt as a means to unify the Greeks and Egyptians in his realm. The god was depicted as Greek in appearance, but with Egyptian trappings, and combined iconography...
in 68 AD and martyred by being dragged through the streets. He was buried under the church he had founded.
Relics of Saint Mark
In 828, the body of St. Mark was stolen from the Alexandrian church by Venetians to be enshrined in the grand new St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. However, the head of the saint remained in Alexandria and every newly-appointed Patriarch of Alexandria began his service with holding the holy head of St. Mark in his lap and changing its cloth shroud.The head of St. Mark was moved around a great deal over the centuries, and has been lost for over 250 years. Some of the relics from the body of St. Mark, however, were returned to Alexandria from Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1968 during the papacy of Pope Cyril VI.
The present St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral is of recent date, but is said to stand on the site of church founded by St. Mark himself.
History of the Cathedral
- 311 AD, before the martyrdom of Pope Peter the Last of MartyrsPope Peter of AlexandriaPope Peter of Alexandria was Pope of Alexandria . He is revered as a saint by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church.-Life:...
, he prayed a last prayer on the grave of Saint Mark, the church was then a little chapel on the eastern coast, and it contained the bodies of Saint MarkMark the EvangelistMark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
and some of his holy successors.
- 321 AD: the church was enlarged in the days of Pope Achillas, the 18th Pope.
- 641 AD: the church was greatly ruined when the Arabs invaded EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. - 680 AD: Pope John IIIPope John III of AlexandriaPope John III of Alexandria was the 40th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .He was originally from Samanoud a city in the North of Egypt, hence also known as Pope John III Of Samanoud....
– the 40th Pope – rebuilt the church. - 828 AD: the body of Saint MarkMark the EvangelistMark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
was stolen by Italian sailors and was taken from Alexandria to VeniceVeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. However, Saint MarkMark the EvangelistMark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
's head remained in AlexandriaAlexandriaAlexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. - 1219 AD: the church was destroyed during the time of the crusades, then it was rebuilt once more.
- 1547 AD: Pierre BelonPierre BelonPierre Belon was a French naturalist. He is sometimes known as Pierre Belon du Mans, or, in Latin translations of his works, as Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus.Belon was born in 1517 at Soulletiere near Cérans-Foulletourte...
The voyager mentioned that the church was founded. - July 1798 AD: the church was pulled down during the French invasion of AlexandriaFrench Invasion of EgyptThe Egyptian Campaign was Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in "The Orient", ostensibly to protect French trade interests, undermine Britain's access to India, and to establish scientific enterprise in the region...
. - 1819 AD: the church was rebuilt and opened by Pope Peter El GawlyPope Peter VII of AlexandriaPope Peter VII of Alexandria ' was the 109th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark . He was born in the village of El-Gawly in Upper Egypt, and known as Mankarius while a monk at St...
in the time of Mohammed Ali Pasha. - 1870 AD: the church was renewed in the time of Pope Demetrius IIPope Demetrius II of AlexandriaPope Demetrius II of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .Pope Demetrius II was enthroned on 10 Paoni 1578 A.M...
and by the supervision of H.G. Bishop Marcos of El Behira. - Between the years 1950 – 1952, in the time of Pope Yusab IIPope Joseph II of AlexandriaPope Joseph II of Alexandria, known in Coptic as Yusab II was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St...
, the church building was pulled down and another, larger building was built with reinforced concrete after the basilique style. The six marble pillars were transferred into the outer entrance of the church. The icon carrier was accurately cut into parts, each part given a number, and then it was cautiously returned to where it was originally. The two minarets were not pulled down as they were reinforced with concrete and were decorated with beautiful Coptic engravingsCoptic architectureCoptic architecture is the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt.Coptic churches range from great cathedrals like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smallest churches in rural villages. Many ancient monasteries like Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest...
. Two new bells – brought from Italy – were provided, one for each minaret. - 1985 – 1990 AD: the church was widened from the western side after the former style with great accuracy, keeping the two minarets in their places, so the entire area of the church was doubled. The six pillars were transferred to the new western entrance of the church supervised by Pope Shenouda III.
External links
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria website
- A short video of the Cathedral's services
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Coptic architectureCoptic architectureCoptic architecture is the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt.Coptic churches range from great cathedrals like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smallest churches in rural villages. Many ancient monasteries like Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest...
- List of Coptic Orthodox Churches in the United States
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