Feast Day: June 5th
The Life of Saint Mark: he confessed to many Spiritual Fathers, Metropolitans and Patriarchs of his fierce desire for Martyrdom… He pulled a Cross out from his chest and kissed it, threw down his turban, and put on a skoufi from Mount Athos… the Saint would constantly chant and say: “Lord, receive me, Your denier.”… “If you knew where I am going, you would drop those cudgels to follow me.”
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Prayers
Apolytikion – Tone 3: You gladdened the whole island of Chios, O Godly-minded, glorious Martyr Mark, as you radiantly preached piety, and deposed profane error, through your words and struggles, O godly-wise one. As you received that which you sought, O ever-memorable one, remember us who praise you.
Apolytikion – Tone 4: God glorified you in Heaven and on Earth, O adornment and boast of Martyrs, O Mark the radiant. To those who celebrate your sacred Memory with fervour, and faithfully Venerate the treasury of your Relics, grant your grace, and pray to Christ for them, that they be delivered from dangers and trials.
Kontakion – Tone 4: To those who stand round your Reliquary, O glorious Mark, and faithfully venerate your Divine Relics, grant the Grace of the Spirit through your Prayers, that He might dwell in them and remain in them, and pour forth streams of healings, for you have attained boldness before the Lord.
Kontakion – Tone 3: Joyously Chios praises in Hymns, and ever honours your wondrous struggles radiantly, hastening to where you were Martyred – O strange wonder! – Hastening to your Master Who sanctified your blood, as you desired, the boast of Martyrs, O Mark, the Athlete of Christ.
Oikos: The radiant and perfect one of Christ, the inconquerable Champion, the adornment of the Martyrs, and the holy treasury, let all of us, the faithful, together place the crowns with the flowers of praises upon Mark, who sprouted as a joyous rose in the great city of Smyrna, which nurtured him well, while the famed island of Chios is joyously enriched with the Godly fragrance of his Martyrical struggles and feats. Therefore, rejoicing and praising his memory, and honouring his wondrous struggle, Sanctify me who cry to him: you who shed your Grace-flowing blood, never neglect me, the boast of Martyrs, O Mark, the Athlete of Christ.
A Hymn: Wisely did you renounce the earth and consider all earthly things as rubbish, and having longed for things Heavenly, O all-Blessed Mark, you exchanged fleeting things for that which is abiding and Eternal.
