Synaxarium

On this day is the commemoration of the appearance of the body of the venerable and great martyr Saint Mina and the consecration of his church in Mariout. When the body of this saint was hidden and the Lord wished to reveal it, it happened that there was a shepherd of sheep in that region. One day, a sheep afflicted with scabies from his flock dipped into a water pool near the place where the saint's body was. Then it came out of the water and rolled in the dust of that place and was immediately healed. When the shepherd witnessed this miracle, he was amazed and began to take dust from that place, sprinkle it with water from the pool, and apply it to every sheep afflicted with scabies or any ailment, and they were healed immediately. This matter spread throughout all the regions until the King of Constantinople heard about it. He had an only daughter afflicted with leprosy, so he sent her there. She inquired from the shepherd about how to be cured. He informed her, so she took some dust, moistened it with water, anointed her body, and slept that night in that place. She saw in a dream Saint Mina saying to her, "Rise early and dig in this place, and you will find my body." She awoke healed. When she dug in the place, she found the holy body. She sent word to her father and informed him of this matter. He rejoiced greatly, thanked God, and glorified His name. He sent money and men, and a church was built and consecrated on this day.

When Arcadius and Honorius ruled, they ordered the building of a city there called Mariout. The crowds flocked to that church, seeking the intercession of the blessed Saint Mina, whom God honored with the working of signs and wonders that appeared from his pure body until the Muslims occupied the city and destroyed the church.

As for the life of this saint, it is mentioned under the fifteenth day of the month Hathor. May his intercession be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.

On this day in the year 1684 of the martyrs, corresponding to Saturday, June 22, 1968 AD, in the tenth year of the papacy of Pope Cyril VI, the one hundred and sixteenth pope in the series of the Popes of the Markian preaching, the official delegation sent by Pope Cyril VI received the relics of the great saint, Saint Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of the Egyptian lands and the first Patriarch of the Markian preaching, from the hands of Pope Paul VI, Pope of Rome, at the papal palace in the Vatican City.

The delegation consisted of ten metropolitans and bishops, including seven Copts, three Ethiopian metropolitans, and three laymen. The metropolitans and bishops, in order of seniority of ordination, were: Anba Mark, Metropolitan of Abu Tig, Tahta, Tama and their dependencies, head of the delegation; Anba Michael, Metropolitan of Assiut and its dependencies; Anba Antonius, Metropolitan of Sohag, Al-Mansha and their dependencies; Anba Peter, Metropolitan of Akhmim, Saqla and their dependencies; Anba Yoannis, Metropolitan of Tigray and its dependencies in Ethiopia; Anba Lucas, Metropolitan of Arousi and its dependencies in Ethiopia; Anba Peter, Metropolitan of Gondar and its dependencies in Ethiopia; Anba Domadius, Bishop of Giza and its dependencies; Anba Gregorius, General Bishop for Higher Theological Studies, Coptic Culture and Scientific Research; and Anba Paul, Bishop of Helwan and its dependencies.

The laymen, in alphabetical order, were: Mr. Edward Michael, Secretary-General of the Patriarchal Committee for Endowments; Mr. Farah Andraous, Secretary-General of the Coptic Endowments Authority; and Mr. Counselor Farid Al-Far'oni, Agent of the National Council in Alexandria.

The Alexandrian papal delegation left Cairo on the afternoon of Thursday, June 23, 1684 AM, corresponding to June 20, 1968 AD, on a private plane accompanied by about 90 Coptic laymen, including seven priests.

They were received at Rome airport by some metropolitans and priests sent by Pope Paul VI and the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Vatican.

At 12:00 noon on Saturday, June 15, corresponding to June 22, the Alexandrian papal delegation met with the Pope of Rome to receive the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle. Well before the appointed time, the procession consisting of the Alexandrian papal delegation and members of the Roman Catholic mission, headed by Cardinal Duval, Cardinal of Algeria, accompanied by Metropolitan Filibra Andz, Secretary-General of the Committee for Christian Unity, Metropolitan Olivotti of Venice, and three priests, moved in an official procession. They were transported by luxurious Vatican cars preceded by motorcycles to the papal palace in Vatican City.

At exactly 10:00, the Alexandrian papal delegation entered, led by Anba Mark, Metropolitan of Abu Tig and Tanta, head of the delegation, followed by the metropolitans and bishops in order of ordination, then the laymen. Pope Paul VI stood at the entrance of his private office to receive the head and members of the delegation one by one. Then he sat on his throne, and the delegation members sat. Pope Paul VI began to speak while seated, greeting the delegation, praising Pope Cyril VI and the Church of Alexandria, congratulating them on the opening of the new Markian Cathedral and the reception of the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle. Anba Mark, head of the delegation, responded with a brief speech, saying he brought greetings from his brother, the Pope of Alexandria, then handed him a letter from Pope Cyril VI expressing thanks and listing the names of the official delegation members sent to receive the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle. Then Pope Paul rose, and the delegation members stood with him. The Pope of Rome and the head of the Alexandrian delegation together carried the box containing the relics of Saint Mark and walked two by two in an official procession from the Pope's office to a large hall prepared to receive the Copts accompanying the official delegation to witness the sacred happy moment. The box of relics was placed on a special table. Then the Roman pontiff advanced, prostrated before the box, and kissed it. The Alexandrian papal delegation did the same, followed by the rest of the delegation members. During this homage to the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle, the Coptic priests chanted appropriate church hymns. Happiness filled the hearts of all, Egyptians and foreigners alike. Those moments were solemn and joyful, and the entire scene was moving. A deep atmosphere of spirituality, piety, holiness, and reverence prevailed in the hall.

Then the Pope of Rome sat on his throne. At that moment, Anba Gregorius stood and delivered a speech on behalf of the delegation in English, conveying the greetings of Pope Cyril VI to Pope Paul VI, expressing the joy of the Christians of Egypt and Ethiopia at the return of the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle after eleven centuries during which the body of Saint Mark was a stranger to the land where he died a martyr.

Pope Paul VI responded with an official speech in French, which he read while seated on his throne. He praised the history of the Church of Alexandria and its long struggle, a pioneer in the field of doctrine. He also praised its heroes and scholars such as Athanasius the Apostolic, Cyril the Pillar of Faith, Pantenus, and Clement, hoping that today's ceremony would be a sign of love and a bond linking the Church of Alexandria and the Church of Rome. The Roman Pope requested in his speech that the head and members of the Roman papal mission convey his greetings, love, and appreciation to Pope Cyril VI, the clergy of the Church of Alexandria and Egypt, and its people.

After that, Pope Paul and Anba Mark, head of the delegation, rose to exchange commemorative gifts. Anba Mark presented gifts from Pope Cyril VI, which were four as follows:

1 – A luxurious box covered and lined with red velvet containing the New Testament book in the Bohairic Coptic language, bound in fine brown leather, inscribed with a dedication in both Coptic and English from Pope Cyril to Pope Paul VI, noting the date of the day, Saturday, June 22, 1968, corresponding to 15 Paoni 1684 AM.

2 – A luxurious box covered and lined with red velvet containing a precious textile fragment from the 5th or 6th century AD, found in the town of Sheikh Abada in Minya Governorate. This piece was part of the archives of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo, presented to Pope Cyril VI as a contribution and expression of general joy at the return of the relics of Saint Mark.

3 – A luxurious box covered and lined with red velvet containing recordings of the Basilian Liturgy and its complete hymns, issued by the Music and Hymns Department of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies.

4 – A luxurious box covered and lined with red velvet containing an excellent carpet measuring two meters and 30 centimeters in length, made by the farmers of the village of Al-Haranya in Egypt under the supervision of the artist Dr. Ramses Wissa Wassef, professor at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. This carpet depicts several scenes representing the complete story of Joseph the Patriarch.

Pope Paul VI admired these precious gifts greatly and thanked Pope Cyril VI warmly, saying he would keep all of this in the Vatican as a treasure for all generations. Then Pope Paul VI personally distributed commemorative gifts to all members of the Alexandrian papal delegation, consisting of a cross engraved with Christ crucified, with Saint Peter the Apostle standing on Christ's right and Saint Paul the Apostle on his left, and behind the cross the name of Paul VI, the Supreme Pontiff, was inscribed. The Pope also gave all the priests and accompanying persons commemorative medals engraved with the images of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles on one side and on the other side the image of Paul VI, the Roman pontiff. Then the Roman Pope presented Anba Mark, head of the Alexandrian papal delegation, with an official document dated May 28, 1968, certifying the authenticity of the relics, confirming that they are indeed the relics of Saint Mark the Apostle, and that they were extracted from their original place with all reverence. The document was signed by the Bishop of Porphyry, guardian of the treasure of the Apostolic See, and the Vatican's general agent. It was then one o'clock in the afternoon, marking the end of the official ceremony for the delivery of the relics of Saint Mark. The delegation returned to the Michelangelo Hotel (Angel Michael) in Rome.

May the blessing of Saint Mark the Apostle be upon all, and to our Lord be glory forever.