The city of St Mark the Evangelist
Alexandria
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Coptic Orthodox tradition tells us the story of St. Mark’s preaching in Alexandria and his martyrdom in 68 AD. Alexandria was a great cosmopolitan city in those days, founded in 331 B.C. by Alexander the Great. It was the city of learning and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina where the Torah or Old testament was translated in Greek (Septuagint). The Holy Family has not been in Alexandria but the church believes their refuge in Egypt made Egypt blessed and prepared the ground for the preaching of the Gospel by St. Mark. Alexandria became the main residence of the Coptic Orthodox Popes who until today carry the title “Pope of Alexandria and North Africa. ” Alexandria greatly influenced the early Christian scholars such as Origin (185-255 AD) and became the location for the Catechetical school, a great center of Christian learning. The city has a great history but the remains of this early Christian period are few. In front of the faculty of science we find two pillars of an ancient church named after the great church father Athanasius (Patriarch from 326-373 AD). The Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria has been many times renewed but stands on a very old location. The lighthouse of Pharos, one of the original seven wonders of the world, was destroyed and we now find the 15th century fortress of Qait Bay on its place.	© copyright Entrance to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with a statue of Ptolemy II (309-247 B.C.) who built the ancient library. © copyright One of the pillars from the church of St. Athanasius in front of the faculty of science near the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.