The Tudor Society
  • #OTD in Tudor history – 25 April

    Portrait of Catherine Parr

    On this day in Tudor history, 25th April, Henry VIII wrote of his hopes for his future with Anne Boleyn, the woman he’d soon set aside; Thomas Stafford proclaimed himself “Protector of the Realm”; Catherine Parr’s translation of “Psalms or Prayers” was published anonymously; and St Mark’s Day was celebrated…

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  • April 25 – St Mark’s Day

    A painting of St Mark the Evangelist with his lion

    The 25th April is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist who was killed when he dragged by a horse until his head parted from his body.

    In medieval and Tudor times, St Mark’s Day was the traditional day for praying for fertile land and a good harvest. People would process across fields carrying the cross, banners and bells to bless the crops and drive away evil spirits. It derived from the Roman pagan tradition of asking the gods for a good harvest.

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  • 25 April – St Mark’s Day

    Happy St Mark's Day!

    How as St Mark's Day celebrated in Tudor times?

    Find out in this #TudorHistoryShorts video...

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  • St Mark’s Day

    25th April is the feast day of St Mark the Evangelist, one of the apostles and the man said to have written the Gospel of Mark. He is known as the founder of Christianity in Alexandria, where a church was founded in his name, and as the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church. As a result of his Christian work in Alexandria and his attacks on the worship of idols, at Easter 68AD he was dragged through the city by a rope around his neck before being imprisoned, where he is said to have had visions assuring him of eternal life. The next day he was dragged until his head parted from his body. Some say he was tied to a horse’s tail.

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