Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Interesting Holy Bible Facts

The Upper Room


Room of the Last Supper

Translation of the 6th century inscription:
This is the house of Mary, mother of John, called Mark. Proclaimed a church by the holy apostles under the name of the Virgin Mary, mother of God, after the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. Renewed after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in the year A.D. 73.

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost occurred in the house of St. Mark, one of the four evangelists, one of the seventy two apostles sent by our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 10) and the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Ibn Kabar (The Lamp of the Darkness:4thbook) mentioned that St. Mark was present at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.He was the man who had been carrying the jar when the two disciples went to prepare a place for the celebration of the Pasch (Mark 14:13-14; Luke 22:11). [He was also the same man who fled naked before the Crucifixion (Mark 14:51, 52)]. Thus, his home (known as the Upper Room of Zion) became the first Christian Church in the world where the Lord himself instituted the Holy Eucharist (Mark 14:12-26). It was in this same place that the Lord appeared twice to the disciples after His resurrection (John 20:19,26) and His Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 2:1-4). St. Peter having been delivered by an angel from prison, went to that same house of "Mary the mother of John also called Mark", where many had gathered and were praying (Acts 12:12).

The first Biblical mention of St. Mark's ministry is with Sts. Barnabas and Paul from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 12:25).From there he journeyed with them to Cyprus and Asia Minor, leaving them in Perga to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).It is then mentioned after the Council at Jerusalem that St. Paul chose St. Silas and St. Mark traveled with St. Barnabas back to Cyprus (Acts 15:37-40).Afterwards, there is no further mention of St. Mark in the Book of Acts.However, he is mentioned in several of the following Epistles in the New Testament.St. Paul describes him as his "fellow laborer" in his epistle to Philemon (verse 24).In his epistle to the Colossians, St. Paul identifies St. Mark as the "cousin of Barnabas" (Col. 4:10); and the Colossians are counseled to receive him if he comes to them.In Second Timothy, St. Paul urges, "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry" (2 Tim 4:11).He is also mentioned by St. Peter in his first epistle as "my son" (1 Pet 5:13).

May the Holy Spirit fill us and guide us as He filled the Apostles and guided them to preach to the world and spread the gospel.To God be all glory now and forever.Amen.

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