Written by Guide Catholic
Pope St. Mark (34º): Martyrdom & Sainthood — Complete Guide
Pontificate: 18 January 336 –7 October 336 · Origin: Rome, Italy, Roman Empire · Birth name: Marcus
St. Mark was the 34th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 18 January 336 –7 October 336 during the apostolic and patristic Church. May have founded two churches in the area of Rome: Church of San Marco and a church at the Catacomb of Balbina, a cemetery. The Catholic Church venerates him as a saint.
Who Was Pope Mark?
Among the 267 popes, Mark is number 34, remembered for the years 18 January 336 –7 October 336 in the apostolic and patristic Church. Search interest often clusters around Martyrdom & Sainthood. Compiled stories of martyrs and bishops before his time. Use the sections below to move from a one-line summary of Mark to a usable historical and spiritual picture. Catholics also honor him as a saint whose intercession remains part of living devotion.
Early Life & Background
Born Rome, Italy, Roman Empire, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Mark (#undefined) shepherded Christians when the faith was still illegal or barely tolerated inside the Roman Empire; records are thin, yet tradition preserves these earliest successors of St. Peter.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (18 January 336 –7 October 336) centered on governance during the apostolic and patristic Church.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Mark (#34, 18 January 336 –7 October 336) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.
Key Highlights
- 34th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 18 January 336 –7 October 336
- Venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church
- May have founded two churches in the area of Rome: Church of San Marco and a church at the Catacomb of Balbina, a cemetery.
Legacy in the Catholic Church
St. Mark remains pope 34º in the Annuario Pontificio. The Church still points to Mark's virtues for imitation. Set against the apostolic and patristic Church, Mark's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Place Mark on your mental map: 34º successor of Peter, reigning 18 January 336 –7 October 336, formed by the apostolic and patristic Church. Because the Church venerates Mark, you may seek his intercession and check his feast in the Martyrology or local calendar. Start with the concrete record: May have founded two churches in the area of Rome: Church of San Marco and a church at the Catacomb of Balbina, a cemetery. Compare Mark with the biographies of his predecessor and successor linked below to see reform, rupture, or quiet continuity.
Place in the Line of Succession
St. Mark followed Pope St. Sylvester I (33º, 31 January 314 –31 December 335) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope St. Julius I (35º, 6 February 337 –12 April 352), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.