Holy Martyr Mark the Shepherd

Life

In the time of Diocletian, a certain Magnus, the governor of Antioch, went hunting with his soldiers. While pursuing a certain beast, the soldiers saw the beast take refuge with Mark the shepherd, who was tending his flock there. And the beast began to nuzzle affectionately around Mark, the man of God. Seeing this, thirty soldiers, instructed by Saint Mark, believed in Christ, and were immediately beheaded. The governor bound Mark, brought him to the city, and summoned three brothers who were smiths — Alexander, Alpheus, and Zosimus — and ordered them to fashion instruments of torture for the torment of Mark. But all three of them, having spoken with Saint Mark, accepted the faith of Christ and refused the governor's order. The governor condemned them to death and ordered that molten lead be poured into their mouths. And then the head of holy Mark was cut off and placed in the temple of Artemis, which then, by the power of God, collapsed.