Mark, traditionally known as Mark the Evangelist or John Mark, is a significant early Christian figure credited with authoring the Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. He was likely an Egyptian by origin and is traditionally considered the founder of the Church of Alexandria in Egypt, thus regarded as a pivotal figure in establishing Christianity in Africa. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and is noted for its emphasis on the deeds, strength, and determination of Jesus, highlighting Jesus' power over evil and his Passion, the suffering and death. Biblical accounts identify Mark as the son of Mary, whose house in Jerusalem served as a meeting place for early Christians. He accompanied the apostles Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey but left early, which caused a temporary rift between Paul and Barnabas. Later, Mark traveled with Barnabas to Cyprus. Despite earlier tensions, Paul later mentions Mark positively in his final letter, indicating reconciliation and Mark’s continuing role in early Christian ministry. Early church tradition holds that Mark was the first bishop of Alexandria, founding the church there around AD 49. This position made him an important ecclesiastical leader, with the see of Alexandria becoming one of the most influential centers of Christianity. Mark is venerated as a saint, with his feast day celebrated on April 25, and his symbol is the winged lion. Various Christian traditions, including the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches, trace their origins to Mark’s foundational work. While modern scholarship debates the exact authorship of the Gospel of Mark and the historicity of some traditions, Mark remains a central figure in Christian history for his contributions to the spread of Christianity and the shaping of early Christian texts and communities.