St Mark the Evangelist
The Evangelist's full name was John Mark (Acts 12:25: 15:37), a combination of Hebrew (John or Johanan = Jehovah is gracious) with Roman (Marcus = Hammer or Mallet) which symbolises his mission.
His Mother Mary from Jerusalem was a friend of Peter who may have converted Mark and referrs to him as his son* (1 Peter 5:13). Mark was the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10).
Mark and Barnabas joined Paul on their first missionary journey to Cyprus. However Mark abandoned them which angered Paul who thought it wise not to take him (Acts 15:38, 29).
This disagreement may have damaged the relationship between Paul and Barnabas who was less severe with Mark. Mark later renewed his relationship with Paul and remained with him even after the imprisonment of the apostle in Rome (Col 4:11 and Philem 23,24)
Mark is also mentioned as helpful to Paul's ministry (2 Tim 4:11) during Paul's second imprisonment.
Mark was with Peter in Rome when he wrote his first Epistle (Peter 5:13).
The apostle Peter sent his disciples out from Rome to establish other churches. Mark was the first to be sent to Egypt, in c AD 49. According to ancient writings, he first carried the Gospel to Libya, where he demolished several temples of idols. He then preached in Egypt and established the church in Alexandria, one of the greatest cities of the world at that time. He was appointed the first Bishop of Alexandria.
*Going back to this reference: This is based on a tradition that Mark is the author of the gospel preached by Peter. Papias, the second-century bishop of Hierapolis, cited by Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea in Palaestine, declares that Mark was the 'interpreter of Peter', who 'wrote down carfully, but not in order, all that he had remembered of the Lord's sayings and doings'. Papias states that Mark did not hear or follow Jesus and therefore was not an eyewitness to the Gospel events. Mark was called Peter's interpreter
Mark's is now acknowledged to be the earliest of the canonical Gospels. It is the shortest of the Gospels as it contains less doctrinal material.
"Saint Mark" by Donatello
Taken from wikipedia.com
St Mark is celebrated on 25th April.