St. Mark's Basilica

The Story

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, with its five domes and glittering golden mosaics, is one of the most celebrated churches in Christendom and, according to tradition, the resting place of St. Mark the Evangelist, author of the second Gospel. Tradition holds that Mark, a disciple and companion of St. Peter — who calls him 'my son Mark' (1 Peter 5:13) — founded the Church of Alexandria in Egypt and was martyred there. In 828, according to the traditional account, Venetian merchants carried his relics from Alexandria to Venice, concealing them from inspection beneath a cargo of pork. The city adopted the Evangelist as its patron, and his winged lion became the emblem of Venice itself. The first church built to house the relics was succeeded by the present basilica, consecrated in 1094, when the relics — hidden during construction — were solemnly rediscovered and enshrined, an event Venetians commemorated for centuries. The relics rest beneath the high altar, marked by the inscription identifying the body of the Evangelist. In a notable gesture of fraternity, Pope Paul VI returned a relic of St. Mark to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in 1968. Once the doge's chapel, St. Mark's has been the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Venice since 1807. Its mosaics, spread across the vaults and domes, present the story of salvation to every visitor, and pilgrims still come to venerate the Evangelist whose Gospel first proclaimed, in swift and vivid strokes, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Church Recognition

St. Mark's has been the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Venice since 1807 and bears the title of patriarchal basilica; the Church venerates St. Mark as Evangelist and martyr, and the presence of his relics beneath the high altar rests on a tradition the Church has honored for nearly twelve centuries.

Catholic Teaching

The veneration of St. Mark's relics reflects the Church's teaching on relics and the communion of saints (CCC 1674; 946-962), and honors the Evangelist through whom the inspired Gospel of Mark was given to the Church (CCC 120, 125-127).

Plan Your Visit

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Practical

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Pilgrims venerate the tomb of St. Mark beneath the high altar, admire the Pala d'Oro and the basilica's famed mosaics, and may attend Mass in the cathedral. The feast of St. Mark on April 25 is celebrated with particular solemnity in Venice.

Go Deeper

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