Encomia in Marcum Euangelistam
Standard abbreviation: Hom. Mark
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 150
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts and Miracles of Mark, Martyrdom of Mark
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Homily on Mark, by Severus of Naswara.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/homily-on-mark-by-severus-of-naswara/.
Created September 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The homily was delivered in the ninth century and was appointed to be read in the churches twice a year (25 April and 27 October). It begins with Mark’s genealogy, saying that Scripture only mentions his mother, this is because his father was not Christian. Severus reveals that Mark appeared to him in a vision, telling him his genealogy, and instructing him to write it in a book. We learn that Mark’s grandfather was named Jacob of the tribe of Levi and that he had a brother named Abraham. The family was wealthy and lived in Jerusalem. The brothers have a dispute and Jacob leaves Jerusalem and goes to Tunis where he takes a wife named Thecla and the two move to Alexandria.
Meanwhile in Ashmunein there lives a rich pagan named Agathon. His parents had worshipped a sacred calf but he refused to serve idols. While Agathon is in Alexandria on business, an angel appears to Jacob telling him to instruct Agathon on the God of Israel and to give him his daughter as a wife. After the marriage, an angel promises Agathon he will have a son named John whose son will be one of the 72 disciples. Unfortunately, Agathon dies before the boy is born.
When John is a young man, Jacob returns with John to Jerusalem to visit Abraham. He now has a daughter named Hannah who marries John. Jacob and the young couple return to Tunis. When Jacob dies, Abraham brings them back to Jerusalem and there John (who will one day be called Mark) is born in the thirtieth year of Jesus’ incarnation. It is said that Hannah was at the crucifixion and was one of the women who brought perfume to the tomb. She also spends time with Mary when she is living with John, son of Zebedee.
At Pentecost, Hannah and John Mark are baptized by John and their names are changed to Mary and Mark. Mary asks Barnabas, her nephew, to take Mark with him on his journeys, but when Mark sees the suffering and persecution Barnabas and Paul endure, he returns home, to his mother’s shame. Later, Paul and Barnabas return to Jerusalem and speak of the marvellous things they had witnessed; Mark sees the esteem in which they are held and repents.
When Paul refuses to take Mark with them, Barnabas takes Mark to Cyprus where they remain for five years until Barnabas’s death. Then Mark becomes Peter’s disciple for a year, during which time he writes the gospel and preaches in Rome. After the death of Peter, Mark is commissioned by Jesus to go to Alexandria and from there to preach to Egypt, Nubia, the Pentapolis, Africa, Cyprus and Crete. But first he goes to Jerusalem to see his mother and receive her blessing before she dies.
Mark boards a ship to Alexandria but a storm carries the ship first to Ifrikiah where he performs many healings. He ordains Alinus, a rich prince he had healed of leprosy, as bishop and then moves on to Alexandria. From here Severus relates several episodes from the Martyrdom of Mark, including the healing of Ananias, Mark’s flight to Pentapolis, his return to Alexandria for his martyrdom, and the storm that prevents the destruction of his body.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Abraham (great-uncle of Mark), Accadius (son of Alinus), Agathon, Alinus, Ananias/Anianos (of Alexandria), Barnabas, Clement (bishop), Jacob (grandfather of Mark), John (father of Mark), John (son of Zebedee), John (the Baptist), Josephus, Mark (evangelist), Mary (mother of John Mark), Mary (Virgin), Michael (angel), Nero, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Philip (son of Alinus), Philo (of Alexandria), Satan, Silas, Thecla (grandmother of Mark), Timothy.
Geographical Locations: Africa, Alexandria, Antioch, Ashmunein, Carthage, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Ephesus, Ifrikiah, Jerusalem, Nubia, Pamphylia, Patmos, Pentapolis, Tunis.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Arabic
3.1.1.1 Arabic Script
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 81, fols. 168v–195r (16th cent.)
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Borg. Ar. 223 (1729)
3.1.1.2 Garšūnī
Edgbaston, University of Birmingham, Mingana Syr. 446, fols. 218r–236v (ca. 1750)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, syr. 237, fols. 197v–245v (1553); related text attributed to Athanasius of Naswara and translated from Coptic
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Sbath 124, fols. 181r–206v (16th cent.)
Bargès, Jean L., trans. Homélie sur St Marc, apôtre et évangéliste par Anba Sévère, évêque de Nestéraweh. Paris: Leroux, 1877 (Arabic text from personal manuscript, pp. 1–82 in Arabic numbering).
Graf, Georg. Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. 5 vols. Studi e testi 118, 133, 146–147, 172. Rome: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1944–1953 (survey of Arabic manuscripts, vol. 1, p. 265).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.2 French
Bargès, Jean L., trans. Homélie sur St Marc, apôtre et évangéliste par Anba Sévère, évêque de Nestéraweh. Paris: Leroux, 1877 (pp. 1–79).
3.3 General Works
Furlong, Dean. The John also Called Mark. Reception and Transformation in Christian Tradition. WUNT II 518. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020 (pp. 44–47).
Youssef, Youhanna. “The Homily of Severus of Nastrawa on Saint Mark.” Bulletin de la Société d’Archéologie Copte 44 (2010): 143–62.