Saint Mark’s celebration in the Holy Metropolis of Corfu
On Wednesday, April 25, 2018, his Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu, Paxoi and Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios did the Divine Liturgy in the celebrating church of Saint Mark in the village of Saint Mark.
In his preaching, the Bishop of Corfu referred to the life of the Evangelist Mark, who was a Disciple of Christ. He was the one, who prepared the place where the Last Supper took place and even followed the Lord before His arrest, in the garden of Gethsemane. Saint Mark experienced closely both the Suffering and the Resurrection from the Dead of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, he followed Saint Paul in his first traveling and then continued with the Apostle Varnavas in Cyprus. Evangelist Mark preached Christ in Alexandria of Egypt, where he established the Church. The idolaters, unable to bear his preaching, seized him, bound him with ropes, and dragged him through the streets until he, cut to pieces on rocks, gave up his soul. His Jewish name was John and the roman one Mark. Saint Mark wrote the oldest Gospel as far as their timing is concerned. The relic of the Evangelist Mark were stolen in the 9th century from the Venetians, while being in the East and were transferred to Venice, where they are still are, protected in the homonymous basilica church.
In addition, the Eminence noted that Corfu, under the Venetian administration, naturally accepted many influences from the West. The whole island is full of the feathered lion, the trademark of the Venetians, the symbol of Evangelist Mark. But they were also built devoted to him.
Moreover, the Bishop of Corfu stressed that the Apostle and Evangelist Mark was honored today, knowing how much he was abused for the love of Christ. Orthodox Christians defend the truth of God at a time when the world has been abducted by falsehood. The world is beautified in the eyes of modern human through falsehood and goodness. The Church, however, comes and confesses that Jesus Christ is the truth, the way and life.
In his closing, Mr. Nektarios asked the faithful to arm with power and confess, like the Apostles, the truth of God and the presence of the Risen Jesus Christ in the modern world.
