St. Mark's Basilica (Relics of St. Mark)

The Story

Beneath the high altar of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice rest the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist, companion of St. Peter and author of the second Gospel — a treasure that shaped the identity of an entire city. Tradition holds that Mark founded the Church of Alexandria in Egypt and was martyred there. According to the traditional account, in 828 two Venetian merchants carried his relics away from Alexandria, concealing them beneath a cargo of pork to avoid inspection, and brought them home in triumph. Venice took the Evangelist as its patron, and his winged lion — the ancient symbol of Mark's Gospel — became the emblem of the republic. The present basilica, consecrated in 1094, was built to enshrine the relics, and Venetian tradition long commemorated their solemn rediscovery within its walls after the years of construction. The tomb beneath the high altar bears the inscription identifying the body of the Evangelist. In 1968 Pope Paul VI returned a relic of St. Mark to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, a gesture of fraternity between the churches that both venerate the Evangelist. Today pilgrims from around the world kneel before the altar of St. Mark, in a church whose golden mosaics narrate the whole sweep of salvation history, honoring the man whose brisk, vivid Gospel opens with the words 'The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.'

Church Recognition

The presence of St. Mark's relics beneath the high altar rests on a tradition the Church has honored since the ninth century; the basilica has been the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Venice since 1807, and the Church venerates St. Mark as Evangelist and martyr with a feast on April 25.

Catholic Teaching

The veneration of the Evangelist's relics reflects the Church's teaching on relics and popular piety (CCC 1674) and on the communion of saints (CCC 946-962), honoring one through whom the inspired Word of God was handed on (CCC 120, 125-127).

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Practical

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St. Mark's Basilica in Venice holds the relics beneath the high altar.

Go Deeper

See the basilica's official website at https://www.basilicasanmarco.it, read the Gospel of Mark, and consult the Catechism on the veneration of relics and the communion of saints (CCC 1674; 946-962).