| St. Mark — one of the four evangelists, being a young man he joined
the Christian community. At first, his name was John and later took a double name John-Mark. On Icons
Mark is usually depicted in the allegoric image of lion holding the Gospel. The source of the symbolic
meaning could be found in the Old Testament Prophecy of Ezekiel. In the 17th century according to the
Sinod law it was prohibited to paint evangelists in the images of animals, their symbols could be
accompanied the human appearance. According to ancient writers Mark was one of the 70 Christ students
and therefore was one of the eye-witnesses of Christ life. |
