St. Mark's Day
On April 25th Venice celebrates St. Mark Evangelist, patron saint of the city. Legend has it that his relics were brought back to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt in 828 by two Venetian merchants, in a very tricky way. It is said that they managed to steal the body from the Muslims by hiding it under pork meat, which was always kept at a distance during customs inspections.
Tradition has it that St. Mark evangelized the people in the form of a winged lion who, between his paws, holds a sword and a book. On the open pages we read Pax tibi marce Evangelista Meus, Peace to you Marco my Evangelist.
