St Mark the Ascetic Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date
St Mark the Ascetic is also known as:
• Mark the Wrestler
• Mark the Hermit
St Mark the Ascetic, Writer Profile |
|
Date of Birth | 5th Century |
---|---|
Country of Birth | Egypt of Asia |
Matrimony/Holy Orders | Monks who became Saints |
Profession | Writer |
Place of Work | Ancyra |
Date of Death | 451 AD |
Place of Death | Egypt, Asia |
Feast Day | March 5 |
Beatification | Beatified by N/A |
Canonization | Canonized by Pre-Congregation |
Patron Saint of |
St Mark the Ascetic Biography
St Mark the Ascetic was a fifth-century monk who may have been a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He was a friend of Saint Nilus the Ascetic although this is questionable. St Mark wrote over 200 texts on spiritual law, baptism, grace and holy works, repentance and other topics.
He may have been the abbot at Ancyra, but he later became a desert hermit. St Mark opposed the Messalian heresy; its teachings are that each person has a personal demon that even baptism cannot conquer.
St Mark also wrote against the Nestorians. He said to have known the scriptures by heart. Legend says Mark once cured a hyena that had been born blind though not sure why.
From his youth, St Marks’s fondest pursuit was reading the Holy Scripture. It is then said that he knows the entire Bible by heart.
Nine of St Mark’s discourses have come down to us. 3 of them are in Volume 1 of the English PHILOKALIA. The Byzantines had very high regard for his writings that they said, “sell everything else and buy Mark”.
St Mark was noted for his gentleness and purity of soul. Mark was known as “the ascetic” because of his soul to God when he was 120 years old.
Today’s St Mark the Ascetic Quote:
“Don’t pursue the perfection of the law in human virtues, for it is not found perfect in them. Its perfection is concealed in the Cross of Christ.”
St Mark’s Quotes
God acknowledges in each commandment by His gracious power. “God is concealed in His commandments”, utters St. Mark the Ascetic. God helps everyone who aspires to keep His commandments. And that God abides in us we know by the Spirit, which He has given us. This means that a Christian is never alone, but he lives and works together with the Thrice-Holy God.
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