His suffering is reported by Saint Gregory the Theologian and Blessed Theodoret. According to these accounts, Mark, during the time of Emperor Constantine, destroyed a pagan temple and converted many to the faith of Christ. But when Emperor Julian came to the throne and soon became an apostate from the faith of Christ, then some citizens of Arethusa also renounced Christ and returned to paganism. And now they rose up against Mark because he had destroyed their temple, demanding that he either rebuild the temple or pay a large sum of money. Since the elder Mark refused to do either of these two things, he was flogged, mocked, and dragged through the streets. Then they cut off his ears with a thin and strong thread, then they 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 endured everything without a groan. He was very old and his face was as bright as an angel of God. The pagans lowered the price of their temple lower and lower, finally asking Mark for a very small sum, which he could easily give. But he refused to give even a single coin. His patience made a huge impression on the citizens, which is why they began to admire and pity him, and why they lowered the price of their temple almost to nothing, just so that he would remain alive. Finally, they released him, and one by one they all received lessons from him again and returned to the faith of Christ. For a similar act, the deacon Cyril from the city of Heliopolis under Mount Lebanon suffered at that time. He had broken some idols during the time of the freedom of Christianity, and under Julian he was severely tortured for it. The pagans were so angry with him that when they killed him, they tore his body apart with their teeth and opened his entrails. On the same day that Saint Cyril suffered, many others also suffered. The wicked pagans cut their bodies into pieces, mixed them with barley, and gave them to pigs. But punishment came upon them quickly, everyone's teeth fell out and an unbearable stench filled their mouths.

Venerable John the Hermit. Saint Venerable Eustathius the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia. Holy Martyrs Jonah, Barachisius and those with them. Easter Fast.