Pope Mark II
Saint Mark II was the forty-ninth patriarch of the See of Saint Mark (799–819), a preacher and writer commemorated on 22 Baramudah.[^1]
Also known as: Saint Mark II · Mark II of Alexandria · Mark II, Saint
Life and election
Saint Mark II was the forty-ninth patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, serving from 799 to 819. His feast day is 22 Baramudah.1
As a deacon in Alexandria, Mark became a disciple of Patriarch John IV and assisted him with church building and during a famine. He subsequently entered monastic life at Dayr Anba Maqar. The monastery’s location is variously given as Wadi al-Natrun or Syria.23
The clergy and bishops assembled in Alexandria unanimously approved Mark’s election, partly because John IV had recommended him on his deathbed. Mark withdrew into the desert, considering himself unworthy of the office. After the governor approved his appointment, Bishop Mikha’il of Misr brought him to Alexandria by force; the account attributed to the History of the Patriarchs specifies that he was taken in iron chains.4
Patriarchal ministry
Mark’s inaugural homily demonstrated his preaching ability and his opposition to the Council of Chalcedon. His friendly relationship with the governor enabled him to obtain permission to rebuild churches, while conditions for Christians in al-Fustat and Alexandria improved.5
He cultivated relations with Antioch through a synodical epistle to Patriarch Cyriacus, explaining his faith and emphasizing the unity of their churches.6 Another passage records that Mark and Patriarch Qiryaqus of Antioch asked a bishop named Abraham to recant his doubts about the efficacy of the Eucharist.7
Mark also brought the Barsanuphians back into communion with the Coptic Orthodox Church. Their followers returned after he ordained their leaders, George and George’s son Abraham, as bishops.8
He assisted people during a locust plague in al-Beheira and Alexandria. His biography also attributes healing and the casting out of evil spirits to him, while recording that he himself suffered ill health for twelve years.9
Conflict and displacement
Following the death of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Egypt experienced local conflicts, interrupted communications, intensified plundering, and heavier tax collection. Fighting between Lakhmids and Andalusians affected Alexandria and its Christian population. During this period, Mark is said to have purchased and freed approximately six thousand Christian captives destined for the slave market.10
The Church of the Redeemer, which Mark had rebuilt, was destroyed by fire. He left Alexandria with two companions and attempted to continue his patriarchal duties from elsewhere. His biography also records the plundering of Scetis and the capture of monks by Bedouins.11
Writings, death, and succession
Mark is credited with twenty Easter epistles, or festal letters, and twenty-one books of mystagogy. Their original language was probably Greek.12
After residing at Nabaruh for five years following his departure from Alexandria, Mark died there on 17 April 819. His coffin was placed in the village church pending its transfer to Alexandria.13
According to the biography of his successor, Jacob, Mark recommended Jacob to the bishops on his deathbed as a worthy candidate. After Mark’s death, they brought Jacob from Wadi Habib for consecration.14
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 450)
MARK II, SAINT, forty-ninth patriarch of the See of Saint Mark (799-819) (feast day: 22 Baramudah). He was an important patriarch, a fascinating individual, a master preacher, and an eminent Coptic writer.
- 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 450)
Mark's life was closely associated with that of his predecessor, JOHN IV. As a deacon in Alexandria, he became John's disciple and helped his mentor in his church building program as well as in his days of need, when the country was stricken by famine. Then he became a monk of Dayr Anba Maqar in Wadi al-Natrun.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 129)
MARK II (feast day: 22 Baramudah), ninth-century patriarch of Alexandria. He was previously a monk of Dayr Anba Maqar in Syria.
- 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 450)
His election to the patriarchate was unanimously approved by the clergy and the bishops assembled at Alexandria, partly on account of his predecessor's deathbed reference to him as a worthy successor. Mark fled deep into the desert because, in his humility, he considered himself unworthy of this dignity. After the governor's approval was granted, however, Bishop Mikha’il of Misr (al-Fustat) returned to take Mark to Alexandria by force; according to the HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS, in iron chains.
- 5.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 450)
Beginning with his inauguration homily after his enthronement at Alexandria, Mark demonstrated his preaching ability and his knowledge of Coptic orthodoxy in opposition to the Council of CHALCEDON. Conditions in al-Fustat and Alexandria improved for the Christians, as Mark was able to obtain permits to rebuild churches since he maintained a friendly relationship with the governor.
- 6.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 450)
Mark cultivated friendly connections with Syria by writing a synodical epistle to Patriarch Cyriacus of Antioch, defining his Coptic Orthodox faith, and stressing the unity between their churches.
- 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 122)
The Eucharist continued to meet with universal acceptance for at least eight centuries, until a bishop of Antioch called Abraham threw doubt upon the efficacy of the sacrament. Patriarch Qiryaqus of Antioch (793-817), together with Patriarch MARK II of Alexandria (799-819), asked him to recant
- 8.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
The Barsanuphians had refused to recognize any patriarchs after Peter III, but when their chiefs, George and his son Abraham, were ordained bishops by Mark, their faithful followers returned to the church as well.
- 9.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
He helped during a locust plague in the western Delta province of al-Beheira and in Alexandria. He was able to heal the sick and cast away evil spirits, although he himself suffered ill health for twelve years.
- 10.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
After the death of Caliph Abu Ja‘far Harun al-Rashid ibn al-Mahdi (786-809), Egypt became embroiled in local conflicts within his realm. Traffic was interrupted, especially to Nubia and Ethiopia. Plundering and tax collecting again intensified. Andalusian warriors brought booty to Alexandria from the Roman islands, which dragged the city into the war movement of the eighth and ninth centuries in the Mediterranean, and the Christians participated in the fight between the Lakhmids and Andalusians, many becoming victims. During this period, Mark is said to have bought and freed about six thousand
- 11.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
The Church of the Redeemer, which had been rebuilt by him, was consumed by fire. Together with two companions, the distressed Mark left Alexandria and tried to carry on his duties in absentia. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, governor of the eastern provinces, attempted to help him by decree. And in Syria the new Antiochene patriarch, Dionysius, defended himself against the heretical sect of the Abrahamites, for which Mark expressed pleasure in a letter to his colleague. Mark also saw the Bedouins plunder SCETIS, even taking some of the monks as prisoners.
- 12.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
The literary works of Mark consist of twenty Easter epistles (festal letters) and twenty-one books of mystagogy. All were probably written in Greek
- 13.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
At Nabaruh, where he resided for five years after leaving Alexandria, Mark died on 17 April 819. His coffin was placed in the village church until it could be moved to Alexandria.
- 14.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 798)
Jacob's sanctity was well known to him, and on his deathbed he mentioned Jacob's name to the bishops present as a worthy successor to the throne of Saint Mark. Thus, when Mark died, the bishops immediately went to Wadi Habib and brought back with them the monk Jacob for consecration.
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