Who he was
- He was a disciple of St. John Chrysostom and a contemporary of St. Nilus the Ascetic, and St. Isidore of Pelusium.
- It seems that he was abbot of a monastery at Ancyra in Galatia in the first half of the 5th century but in his old age lived as a hermit in the desert, most probably the desert of Juda.
- Since he took part in the controversy with the Nestorians, he must have died after 430.
- He wrote at least 40 ascetic treatises, nine have survived.
- In his treatise On Those who Think that They are Made Righteous by Works(226 Texts), St. Mark wrote: 56. Real knowledge is patiently to accept affliction and not to blame others for our misfortunes. 61. Grace has been given mystically to those who have been baptized into Christ; and it becomes active within them to the extent that they actively observe the commandments. Grace never ceases to help us secretly; but to do good – as far as lies in our power – depends on us. 92. Everyone baptized in the Orthodox manner has received mystically the fullness of grace; but he becomes conscious of this grace only to the extent that he actively observes the commandments. 135. If you want your sins to be ‘covered’ by the Lord... do not display your virtues to others. For whatever we do with our virtues, God will also do with our sins.’ 29
What he wrote
1. Ascetic treatises
- De lege spirituali (On the Law of the Spirit).
- De his qui putant se ex operibus iustificari (On Those who Think that They are Made Righteous by Works). It seems to be a part of the above-mentioned treatise.
- De poenitentia ( 13 chapters on Penance),
- De ieiunio (On Fasting), De Nicolaum praecepta animae salutaria, De baptismo (On Baptism), Consultatio intellectus cum sua ipsius anima.
- Disputatio cum quodam causidico: A dispute between an advocate and an aged ascetic (probably St. Mark himself), deals with the question of whether Christians should take anyone to court. 2.De Melchisedech
- Against those who believed that Melchizedek was an incarnation of the Logos. 3.Adversus Nestorianos
- In agreement with St. Cyril’s Anathemas.