St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Alexandria
Inside St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.
Photo © St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral.
Another interior view of St. Mark's. Photo under GFDL.
Location map and aerial view of St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral. For a larger interactive view, see our Alexandria Map.
St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria is the seat of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The cathedral is said to stand on the site of the church founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in 60 AD.
History
St. Mark the Evangelist (author of the second Gospel) has been connected with the city of Alexandria since earliest Christian tradition. Coptic Christians believe he arrived in Alexandria around 60 AD and stayed for about seven years.
During this time, Mark converted many to Christianity and performed miracles. He is considered the founder of the church in Alexandria and the first Bishop of Alexandria. According to tradition, St. Mark was arrested during a festival of Serapis in 68 AD and martyred by being dragged through the streets. He was buried under the church he had founded.
In 828, the body of St. Mark was stolen from the Alexandrian church by Venetians to be enshrined in the grand new St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. However, the head of the saint remained in Alexandria and every newly-appointed Patriarch of Alexandria began his service with holding the holy head of St. Mark in his lap and changing its cloth shroud.
The head of St. Mark was moved around a great deal over the centuries, and has been lost for over 250 years. Some of the relics from the body of St. Mark, however, were returned to Alexandria from Rome in 1968.
What to See
The present St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral is of recent date, but is said to stand on the site of church founded by St. Mark himself.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral; St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church; St. Marcos Orthodox Church; Morkosia |
| Dedicated to: | St. Mark |
| Location: | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Coptic Orthodox |
| Status: | active |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 31.19828° N, 29.899898° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Website: | www.elmorkosia.net |
Travel Resources
- Alexandria Map - our detailed interactive map of Alexandria, plus hand-picked links to more
- Alexandria Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Alexandria
- Alexandria Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Alexandria Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Alexandria Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Alexandria tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Saint-Mark Coptic Orthodox Church - official website
- Apostle Mark - OrthodoxWiki
- The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt - Encyclopedia Coptica
- The Church of Alexandria - Catholic Encyclopedia
- The Beholder of God Mark the Evangelist, Saint and Martyr by H.H. Pope Shenouda III (English translation)
Article last updated: 07/09/2009.
