Saint Mark the Evangelist (1st century), also known as John Mark, is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion of Saint Peter. He accompanied Paul of Tarsus and Barnabas on Paul's first missionary journey. After a sharp dispute, Barnabas separated from Paul, taking Mark to Cyprus. Later Paul called upon the services of Mark, the kinsman of Barnabas, and Mark was named as Paul's fellow worker.

His feast day is celebrated on 25 April, the anniversary of his martyrdom. St Mark is also believed by various traditions to be the first Pope of Alexandria and thus the founder of Christianity in Africa. His evangelistic symbol is the lion.

He is believed to have written the gospel of Mark while in Rome with St Peter. The gospel includes many details on what Simon Peter was doing during the events of Jesus' ministry, passion and resurrection.

St Mark is often associated with the message of the importance of the word of God in our lives, that the scriptures really do speak to us and that we should be reading them.