who on that same day arose from death,
and ran together and seized him.
Then straightway they knotted a rope about his neck,
and dragged him through the streets, so that the stones were
sprinkled with his blood, and befouled with his flesh,
and the holy Mark greatly thanked
the Saviour Christ, that he was suffering for Him.
Then afterward, at eventide, they put him in prison,
until they had considered how they might kill him.
Lo! then, at midnight there was a great earthquake,
and God's angel flew suddenly to the prison,
and aroused the Evangelist, and said these words to him,
' Thou, God's servant, thy name is written
in the book of life, and thy memorial faileth not.
And thou art a companion of the celestial power
where thou shalt ever live, and thy spirit shalt be in heaven,
and thy resting-place shall never be lost in the world.'
Then the Saint stretched out his hands and said,
' I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast not forsaken me,
but rememberest me with Thy saints.
I pray Thee now, Jesus Christ, receive my soul in peace,
and suffer not that I be separated from Thee.'
While he was saying this, there came Christ Himself to him,
in the same likeness in which He had lived in the world,
and gave him the greeting of peace, and said to him these words,
Pax tibi, Marce, noster euangelista,
'Peace be with thee, Mark, our Evangelist.'
And Mark said to Him, 'My Lord Jesus';
and the Saviour straightway departed to heaven.
