SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

have been written around the third century ( cf. Donaldson p.388 ), gives us a brief but important piece of evidence. Section IV of Book 7 lists the bishops of the various churches and by whom they were ordained. It states the following: "Of Alexandria, Annianus was the first, ordained by Mark the evangelist." ( Donaldson p.477-8 ) This supports the early tradition that St. Mark first preached in Alexandria to Anianus and that he eventually ordained him bishop. The next piece of evidence can be found in the writings of John Cassian, a 4th century writer. The following statement is found in Book II, Chapter V of his Institutes : "For in the early days of the faith when only a few, and those the best of men, were known by the names of monks, who as they received that mode of life from the Evangelist Mark of blessed memory, the first to preside over the Church of Alexandria as Bishop." ( Gibson p.206 ) In his description of the early monks, Cassian provides us with an important piece of information; that is, that St. Mark was the first bishop of Alexandria. One of the most important early Christian writers was Eusebius, a bishop in the fourth century. His writings support the claim made by historians that early Christianity in Egypt had a Jewish character. In addition, he writes about St. Mark in Egypt in his Church History, Book II, Chapter 16 which states: "And they say that this Mark was the first sent to Egypt, and that he proclaimed the Gospel which he had written, and first established churches in Alexandria."( McGiffert p.116 ) Later on in Chapter 24 of Book II, Eusebius reports that "in the eighth year of the reign of Nero, Annianus was the first after Mark the Evangelist to receive charge of the diocese of Alexandria." ( McGiffert p.128 ) Both of these citations from Eusebius support the tradition that St. Mark was the first to go to Alexandria and that Anianus eventually succeeded him. The last piece of evidence we have is found in the sixth century writings of Bishop John of Shmun, a city in Upper Egypt ( cf. Abdelsayed ). He writes about the torn sandal of St. Mark when he went to

Alexandria, and of the man who injured his hand when trying to fix it. He writes, "And when St. Mark heard these things, he made clay in his hand and St. Mark made the sign of the cross on the hand of the man; 'In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This one that I came to announce his name in this city of Alexandria.' And at that moment, the wound disappeared..." This document is very important because it not only reveals that he went to Alexandria to preach about Christ, but it also supports the early tradition of his sandal being broken and the healing of Ananius' hand. Several independent accounts of St. Mark in Alexandria have preserved for us the writings of the early Christians. They provide us with important pieces of evidence which support the claim of the orthodox church that St. Mark was the founder and therefore the tradition must not and cannot be dismissed. A New Proposal: At this time, I'd like to propose the following theory which seems to me to be the most convincing. In accordance to the Clementine Homilies from the 2nd or 3rd century AD ( cf. Riddle p.70 ), Barnabas preached in Alexandria between 52 and 54 AD. It can be assumed that St. Mark was there too since Barnabas took him everywhere he went. Therefore, this indirectly places St. Mark in Alexandria at that time. The people there rejected them, according to Clement's account. Just before Barnabas died, around 54 AD he told St. Mark to go back to Egypt and try again. This brings St. Mark to Alexandria around 54-55 AD. As he was walking in the city, his sandal strap broke and he was brought to Ananius. After healing his hand and preaching to him, he ordained Ananius bishop of Alexandria around 62 AD. At this time, St. Mark received word that St. Paul was arrested in Rome and was about to be martyred. He then left Egypt to be with St. Paul in Rome, until St. Paul was martyred in 67 AD. He also stayed until around 68 AD when St. Peter was also martyred in Rome. In 68 AD, St. Mark went back to Egypt during the time of the Easter festival, as

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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