Saint Gregory the Theologian and blessed Theodoret report on his suffering. According to those reports, Marko, during the time of Emperor Constantine, destroyed a heathen temple and converted many to the faith of Christ. But when Emperor Julian came to the throne, and soon became apostate from the faith of Christ, some Aretusian citizens also renounced Christ and returned to paganism. And now they rise up against Mark because he destroyed their temple, demanding that he either build the temple or pay a large sum of money. If old Marko refused to do either of those two things, he would be beaten, mocked and dragged through the streets. Then they cut off his ears with a thin and strong thread, then stripped him naked and smeared him with honey, and left him tied to a tree in the summer heat, so that wasps, mosquitoes and hornets would bite him. But the martyr of Christ suffered everything without moaning. He was quite old, but his face shone like an angel of God. The pagans kept lowering the price of their temple, finally asking Mark for a very small sum, which he could easily give. But he refused to give a single coin. His patience made a huge impression on the citizens, which is why they began to admire him and pity him, and because of which they lowered the price of their temple to almost nothing, just so that he would stay alive. Finally, they released him, and one by one everyone again received lessons from him and returned to the faith of Christ. At that time, deacon Kirill from the city of Iliopolis under Mount Lebanon was martyred for a similar act. He had broken some idols during the freedom of Christianity, and under Julian he was angrily tortured for it. The pagans were so angry with him, that when they killed him, they tore his teeth and opened his bowels. On the same day that St. Cyril suffered, so did many others. The evil heathens cut their bodies into pieces, mixed them with barley, and gave them to pigs. But the punishment soon arrived, everyone's teeth fell out and an unbearable stench hit their mouths.

Venerable John the Hermit. Saint Eustathius the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia. The holy martyrs Jonah, Varachisius and those with them. Easter fast.