What is striking in the Gospel of Mark is that Jesus is portrayed as a man of action who hits the ground running, with no time to waste. The Gospel of Mark is the oldest of the four Gospels (Matthew and Luke based a lot of their writings on Mark these three Gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew are also called the 'Synoptic Gospels'). I always find it fascinating that already at the time, people such as Mark evangelised the word of Christ by traveling such great distances. In addition to writing his Gospel, Saint Mark is credited with founding the Church of Alexandria in Egypt, one of the original Apostolic Sees of Christianity (along with Rome, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem). He is often also shown with a winged lion, as another legend has it that Mark, while taking refuge from a storm in the city of Venice, was visited in a dream by an angel in the form of a winged lion. Mark was a companion of Saint Peter and is said to have survived being thrown to the lions, which is why he is shown with a lion. We see Saint Mark depicted at his desk, writing his Gospel. The highly intricate detailing, especially in the gilding is particularly exquisite. The miniature in fact looks more like a painting than a book illustration. In the history of illuminated manuscripts, this is a very late book. It is taken from the book of hours 'Grandes Heures of Anne of Brittany', Queen of France to two kings in succession. Our illuminated manuscript miniature was executed circa 1503 by Jean Bourdichon (1456-1521), one of Europe's most accomplished miniature painters. Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Mark the evangelist. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils they will have the gift of tongues they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.'Īnd so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
He who believes and is baptised will be saved he who does not believe will be condemned. 'Go out to the whole world proclaim the Good News to all creation. Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them: Saint Mark the Evangelist, Illuminated miniature by Jean Bourdichon © La Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
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