Podcasts about father mark

Father Willie Van De Loo, a priest of the diocese of Green Bay for 70 years joins Taylor and Father Mark to share his beautiful, hilarious, humble, and insightful vocation story. 

Join us for an inspiring summer at Family Church! This June, we're excited to launch our "Summer Speakers" series, featuring dynamic and transformative messages. Special Speakers Sundays | 8. 9:45 & 11:30AMJeffery Smith 5/25Jason Avanzini 6/1Eddie Crabtree 6/8Mark Moore 6/15

Sunday Morning Sermon by Cody Jolly

Speaker: Mark Piland, Senior Pastor, Oak Hills Community Church, Argyle, Tx

Using the Lord's prayer from Matthew 6, guest speaker, Mark Ritchie delves into knowing God as Father.

Acts 2 - churches together Pentecost - Father Mark Hogan - Sunday 8th June 2025 (7pm) by Christ Church Winchester

Diplomas, grad parties, summer jobs, new jobs, oh my! Graduation season is upon us and there are always many things that come along for the ride. One thing that needs to be examined, however, is your faith. Taylor and Father Mark share some insights on how to stay engaged with your faith post-graduation and some tips on how to stay close to the Lord. Send this to someone who you know has just graduated or is about to!

Today the Pugs welcome Fr. Mark Perkins of St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia onto the show! St. Dunstan's brings together Christian formation in the Anglican tradition alongside an education in the classics, skilled trades, and agriculture. Its vision is to help boys grow into mature Christian manhood through rites of passage and through a deep engagement with embodied reality. It’s a wonderful vision for the education of boys. We hope you enjoy the show! Learn more about St. Dunstan's Academy: https://stdunstansacademy.org/ Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Today the Pugs welcome Fr. Mark Perkins of St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia onto the show! St. Dunstan's brings together Christian formation in the Anglican tradition alongside an education in the classics, skilled trades, and agriculture. Its vision is to help boys grow into mature Christian manhood through rites of passage and through a deep engagement with embodied reality. It's a wonderful vision for the education of boys. We hope you enjoy the show!Learn more about St. Dunstan's Academy: https://stdunstansacademy.org/Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Today the Pugs welcome Fr. Mark Perkins of St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia onto the show! St. Dunstan's brings together Christian formation in the Anglican tradition alongside an education in the classics, skilled trades, and agriculture. Its vision is to help boys grow into mature Christian manhood through rites of passage and through a deep engagement with embodied reality. It’s a wonderful vision for the education of boys. We hope you enjoy the show! Learn more about St. Dunstan's Academy: https://stdunstansacademy.org/ Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Today the Pugs welcome Fr. Mark Perkins of St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia onto the show! St. Dunstan's brings together Christian formation in the Anglican tradition alongside an education in the classics, skilled trades, and agriculture. Its vision is to help boys grow into mature Christian manhood through rites of passage and through a deep engagement with embodied reality. It’s a wonderful vision for the education of boys. We hope you enjoy the show! Learn more about St. Dunstan's Academy: https://stdunstansacademy.org/ Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

On this week's episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Mark Francis, C.S.V., who was a seminary classmate of Pope Leo (then known as Bob Prevost) at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in the late 1970s. Father Mark is the provincial of the Chicago province of the Viatorian community, and he describes Pope Leo as a thoughtful and sensitive leader—even in their seminary days. Zac, Ashley, and Fr. Mark discuss:  Pope Leo's formation at C.T.U., where he learned alongside women and engaged with social justice issues How Pope Leo's language skills, governing experience and global perspective will be key assets in his papacy  Why efforts to put Pope Leo in a box are doomed to fail Links for further reading:  Jesuitical Storytelling Retreat Podcast: Inside Pope Leo XIV's first week Pope Leo XIV, in first U.S. appointment, names San Diego's new bishop Pope Leo's first audience: God's love is generous, not calculating Pope Leo's Chicago roots: a conversation with Cardinal Cupich Leo XIV: An American pope for the end of American empire? You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a Pope!Taylor and Father Mark are joined by Father Scott Valentyn where they celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, share their hopes for this papacy, and Father Mark and Father Scott reminisce about past papal elections...even one that Father Scott was in Rome to witness! Remember, pray for the Pope!

Haven't been to Rome? Neither has Taylor! But luckily, Father Mark has and on this episode, he breaks down the beauty of Rome and its significance to our Catholic faith. 

Fill-In Notes: https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/39900/note-231844.html Continuing The Conversation 1. Have you felt completely alone during a tough time? How does knowing Jesus also felt abandoned in His suffering change how you see those moments in your life? 2. When Jesus was overwhelmed, He fell to the ground and cried out to the Father (Mark 14:3536). What does that teach you about how to handle your own pain or fear? Do you usually run to Jesus first? 3. Abiding means staying close full dependence on Jesus when life gets hard through prayer, Scripture, community or worship. What might need to change so your connection with Him grows deeper during trials?

Fill-In Notes: https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/39900/note-231844.html Continuing The Conversation 1. Have you felt completely alone during a tough time? How does knowing Jesus also felt abandoned in His suffering change how you see those moments in your life? 2. When Jesus was overwhelmed, He fell to the ground and cried out to the Father (Mark 14:3536). What does that teach you about how to handle your own pain or fear? Do you usually run to Jesus first? 3. Abiding means staying close full dependence on Jesus when life gets hard through prayer, Scripture, community or worship. What might need to change so your connection with Him grows deeper during trials?

He is also called 'Mark the Athenian' because he was born in Athens. When his parents died, he pondered the transience of all earthly things, gave his goods to the poor, and embarked on a plank in the sea, asking God to lead him wherever He desired. By God's providence, Mark was cast up on the shores of Libya, where he settled as a hermit on a mountain called Trache. (Some say it was in Ethiopia, but this seems less likely.) There he lived for ninety-five years, never seeing another human being.   Saint Serapion visited him before his death and recorded his life. Serapion asked Mark if there were any Christians whose faith was so great that they could say to a mountain 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and it would be so. Immediately the mountain on which they stood began to move like a wave, but Mark raised his hand and stilled it.   On his deathbed, St Mark prayed for the salvation of all men and gave up his soul to God. Saint Serapion saw an angel carrying Mark's soul, and a hand extended from heaven to receive it. Saint Mark was about 130 years old when he reposed.

Who doesn't love talking to a religious sister?? We know you will love our guest this week because we sure did. Taylor and Father Mark are joined by Sister Maria José, a religious sister belonging to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. Sister Maria shares her beautiful story along with some incredible insights that she learned along the way. 

In Episode 236 of the Fit Father Project Podcast, Dr. Anthony Balduzzi interviews Fit Father member, Mark Lattery, who shares his transformative journey from a health crisis to a vibrant, active lifestyle. Mark tells about the challenges he faced, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and fatigue, and how he found the Fit Father program. Mark highlights the importance of nutrition, particularly hydration, and how small changes led to significant results. He emphasizes the holistic impact of physical health on all areas of life, including family, work, and personal fulfillment. His story serves as an inspiration for men seeking to improve their health and well-being. Mark discusses the challenges he faced with medical advice, the significance of walking and sleep in his routine, and how his family reacted to his changes. Mark highlights the role of the Fit Father community in providing motivation and accountability, and reflects on the evolution of the Apex 10 workout program as a key component of his fitness journey. Ultimately, he expresses a newfound perspective on life and hope for the future as a Fit Father.Key TakeawaysMark's journey began with a health crisis that prompted change.He realized the importance of nutrition and hydration.Small, consistent changes can lead to significant results.Physical health impacts all areas of life, including mental and emotional well-being.Finding a supportive program like Fit Father can provide necessary guidance.Mark learned to prioritize water intake as a keystone habit.He discovered the importance of strength training and safe workouts post-surgery.Engaging in activities he loved, like roller skating, reignited his passion for fitness.He emphasizes the importance of knowledge in maintaining health and fitness. Finding what your body needs is essential.Walking, water, and sleep are foundational habits.Don't adopt an all-or-nothing mindset.Community support is crucial for motivation.Having a vision statement can guide you through tough times.Family support can enhance your fitness journey.Transformation is about hope for the future.The Scoop on LivOn LabsWebsite: https://www.livonlabs.com/Special Offer: Order any full-priced Lypo-Spheric supplement from LivOnLabs.com, and get 1 carton of Lypo-Spheric B Complex Plus FREE, a $56 value!Add Lypo-Spheric B Complex Plus to your cart.Add any Lypo-Spheric supplement to your cart.Enter the code FITFATHER25 at checkout. This will remove the price of the Lypo-Spheric B Complex Plus from your order.Click SubmitTake a Look at Just ThriveWebsite: https://justthrivehealth.com/Use promo code: FITFAMILY and save 20% on your first 90-day bottle of Just Thrive Probiotics.Want To Change Your Life? Check Out Foundations!Foundations is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program designed especially for busy men over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team there for you every step of the way, Foundations can help you lose weight, regain energy and vitality, and live life to the fullest. Click here to see everything you get when you join Foundations, subscribe to our

Fr. Christopher Seith joins Father Mark to talk about his book, Rekindling Wonder, and the immense importance of and benefits from stepping away from screen time in daily life. (January 6, 2025)

In 1881 a group of mothers in the small Italian village of Lu prayed each Sunday for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life from their own families. By the grace of God, 323 vocations came from this small town because of their prayers! Taylor and Father Mark are joined this week by Andrea Phillips, a wife, mother, and founder of a group of mothers who take their inspiration from the Mothers of Lu and pray for their own children's vocations. Andrea shares her own vocation story as well as why this group is so necessary to have. Be sure to reach out to her if you are interested in joining or starting your own Mothers of Lu group! 

120 views Premiered Feb 15, 2025Father Mark-Mary Ames joins the show to talk to Bear about his new podcast The Rosary in a Year. Fr. Mark-Mary shares why a daily Rosary prayer fosters a deeper connection with God and how Mary is such gift from Jesus.Key takes from this episode:

How many of you have a hard time having a relationship with God the Father? Fr. Mark Mary Ames of the Franciscan Friars of The Renewal joins to help us have a better relationship with our heavenly Father. No matter your experience with your earthly father, God's divine fatherhood will continue to pursue you throughout your life.

Pilgrims of hope, offering it up, and Jimmy Carter?? This episode has it all. Taylor and Father Mark are joined by Father Andrew Kurz, our newly appointed Diocesan Confessor for the Jubilee Year of Hope where we discuss why we take pilgrimages and how to do it during this year. 

This holy defender of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church labored in the final days of the Byzantine Empire, when, pressed on all sides by the Turks, the Emperor in desperation sought union with (or rather submission to) the Papacy in hopes of obtaining aid from the West. It was St Mark who stood almost alone to prevent such a disaster to the Faith.   He was born in Constantinople in 1392 to devout parents. He received a thorough education and seemed destined for a secular career, but at the age of twenty- six he abandoned all worldly claims and became a monk in a small monastery in Nicomedia. Soon the Turkish threat forced him to return to Constantinople, where, continuing in the monastic life, he wrote a number of treatises on prayer and the dogmas of the Church. In time he was ordained priest, then, at the insistence of the Emperor John VIII Paleologos was made Metropolitan of Ephesus. The Emperor also prevailed on him to join the delegation which traveled to the Council of Florence to consider the reunion of the Orthodox Church and the churches under the Papacy. (Saint Mark went as exarch of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, who were unable to attend.)   The Greek delegation included the Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople. All, including Metropolitan Mark, began with great hopes that a true union in faith might result from the Council, but as the sessions proceeded, it soon became clear that Pope Eugenius and his theologians were interested only in securing submission of the Eastern Church to the Papacy and its theology. The Metropolitan spoke forcefully against various Latin dogmas such as the filioque and Purgatory, but the Greek delegation, desperate for western aid, bowed to expediency and agreed to sign a document of Union which would have denied the Orthodox Faith itself. Saint Mark was the only member of the delegation who refused to sign. When the Pope heard of this, he said "The bishop of Ephesus has not signed, so we have achieved nothing!"   When the delegation returned to Constantinople, the signers of the false Union were received with universal condemnation by the people, while Metropolitan Mark was hailed as a hero. The churches headed by Unionists were soon almost empty, while the people flocked to the churches headed by those loyal to Orthodoxy. Saint Mark left the City to avoid concelebrating with the Unionist Patriarch. He was exiled by the Emperor to Lemnos, but was freed in 1442. He continued to oppose the Union until his repose in 1444. In 1452 the Union was officially proclaimed in Constantinople, but the hoped-for Western aid was not forthcoming, and the City fell to the Turks in 1453.

What is a jubilee year and what does it mean that we are called to be pilgrims of hope? Bishop Ricken joins Taylor and Father Mark to explain and to show us how we can celebrate in our diocese this year. 

Father Heart TV Webcast - 8th Jan 2025How Jesus Reveals His Father - Mark Gyde [...]

The Incarnation of our Blessed Lord is why we celebrate this time of year. But how long do we celebrate and what are some of the reasons that we celebrate for so long? Join Taylor and Father Mark as they dive into Christmas! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! In this special episode the Fathers bring the holiday cheer as they discuss the spiritual side of Christmas and what it means to be a Christian in today's modern world. Dustin's pastor Father Mark Ragsdale of the Church at Viera joins and imparts his wisdom and speaks the gospel.____________________________________________ How to find Father Mark: https://churchatviera.com ____________________________________________ Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Infraction - Training Day If you are tired of feeling lost, alone, isolated, and aimless then check out our coaching program specifically designed to help men become the hero in their story. We forge men into leaders. We turn cowards into Kings. We turn weaklings into Warriors. Join us in The Elite Sentinel Forge to start your transformation: https://www.theelitesentinel.com/ OUR MERCH STORE IS LIVE! Check out this amazing dad gear: https://thepresentfathers.shop/ We use Riverside to record. Try it for yourself! https://www.riverside.fm/?via=presentfathers Get discovered! Use PodMatch to get on your next podcast or find your next guest! https://www.joinpodmatch.com/presentfathers We are "The Present Father's Podcast", the podcast that focuses on climbing the mountain of fatherhood together. Subscribe to the Channel and Share our podcast with men you believe would benefit from it. It is our goal to provide a positive outlet for Dads to grow and foster a strong legacy of fatherhood that is present and involved with their children. Visit https://presentfathers.com/ to learn more about us and catch all of our old episodes!

Father Mark and St. Hubert...basically the same guys.This week, Taylor and Father Mark discuss hunting and the surprising spirituality that can be engaged during it. Listen as they open up the story of St. Hubert and Father Mark explains how hunting and his spiritual life are connected. 

"Let us give thanks to the Lord our God" "It is right and just!" Giving thanks is one of the most important aspects of the spiritual life, and not just on Thanksgiving either. Taylor and Father Mark share some thoughts and ideas on the importance of gratitude and its relation to how we love God. 

Fr. Marks gives the Sunday sermon on the parable of the sower.

A Tribute to My Father Mark Cummings

My rock - Psalm 62 - Father Mark Hogan - 4th November 2024 (19:00) by Christ Church Winchester

Have you ever wondered why Jesus prayed so much? Isn't He the Son of God? Why would He need prayer? Because He wanted to spend time with God the Father. Jesus was busier on earth than we'll ever be. But He made time. We have full schedules, but we can find time to be with God. Let's pray and spend time with our Father today.

St. Paul is one of the most significant figures in the life of the Church and serves as a model for all of us in many ways. Taylor and Father Mark discuss this towering figure and some of the ways in which Paul is a model for all of us and his deep impact on the entire Church. 

Priests are a gift, and we need to let them know.This week, Taylor and Father Mark talk about the priests who have impacted them the most in their lives. Make sure you thank the priest(s) in your life who have helped you on the path to holiness, especially since this Sunday is priesthood Sunday!

Bishop Ricken is back! Taylor and Father Mark discuss with Bishop a completely silent football stadium, a trip to the Philippines, a middle school Santa, and, of course, the Holy Eucharist.  

New books, new markers, new teachers...it must be a new school year! Taylor & Father Mark offer some suggestions for how to make this school year one centered on your family's faith. 

Episode 206 is about learning how to adapt and overcome to achieve any goal in life. In this episode, you'll meet Mark, a 62-year-old man who used the Fit Father Project to lose over 30 pounds and completely transform his life!Mark found the Fit Father Project through a Google search and was immediately drawn in. So, he and his wife, Sue, decided to commit to the program together. They have experienced significant weight loss, improved overall health, and so much more!But it wasn't always easy. Mark overcame challenges and injuries, learned to adapt, and stayed committed. His motivations have deepened, including a focus on faith and mental clarity. Mark shares how his fitness journey has impacted his family and future goals, emphasizing the importance of nutrition and consistency in achieving long-term success. His advice for others starting their fitness journey is priceless, and I can't wait for you to hear it!Key Takeaways:Finding a fitness program that suits your needs and goals is essential for long-term success. Having a partner or support system can provide accountability and motivation.Overcoming challenges and adapting to setbacks are crucial for maintaining progress.Motivations can evolve and deepen, leading to a more holistic approach to health and wellness. Non-scale victories (NSVs), such as improved energy and positive feedback from medical professionals, can be powerful motivators.Want To Change Your Life? Check Out FF30X!FF30X is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program designed especially for busy men over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team there for you every step of the way, FF30X can help you lose weight, regain energy and vitality, and live life to the fullest. Click here to see everything you get when you join FF30X, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, check out our blog, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Threads.

It's not rocket science...even if our guest WAS at NASA, it's about time spent with Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist. Taylor & Father Mark are joined by Father Joseph Aytona, C.P.M., the rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. Father Joseph shares his story, as well as words of encouragement for those discerning and all of us looking to grow in holiness. 

Recorded in Summer 2024, Fort Wayne

"Take a step." That is the advice given to our newly ordained (May 2024) priest, Father Mark Rydell, as he discerned his calling to the holy priesthood. Today, he shares that story of discernment with us!

The Gonz joins Tony in New York City for a special episode of Hawk Vs Wolf. They discuss touring early in their careers, Tony and Rodney's live show, mute fast plant untucked, taking photos concussed, Gonz is square, Naming Tricks, Zines and Basquiat, Gummo, Surfing, Shoe tie Broken collarbone arrest, Gonz's worst injury, Comercial work, Skatas in Paris, catacombs and dinosaur bones, making guac, the moon landing, and the boys experience the great NY earthquake of 2024! See Jason On Tour! https://thejasonellis.com/ Head to factormeals.com/wolfhawk50 and use code wolfhawk50 to get 50% off  Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping. Use code wolf15 at checkout at theperfectjean.nyc  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gonz joins Tony in New York City for a special episode of Hawk Vs Wolf. They discuss touring early in their careers, Tony and Rodney's live show, mute fast plant untucked, taking photos concussed, Gonz is square, Naming Tricks, Zines and Basquiat, Gummo, Surfing, Shoe tie Broken collarbone arrest, Gonz's worst injury, Comercial work, Skatas in Paris, catacombs and dinosaur bones, making guac, the moon landing, and the boys experience the great NY earthquake of 2024! See Jason On Tour! https://thejasonellis.com/ Head to factormeals.com/wolfhawk50 and use code wolfhawk50 to get 50% off  Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping. Use code wolf15 at checkout at theperfectjean.nyc  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He is also called 'Mark the Athenian' because he was born in Athens. When his parents died, he pondered the transience of all earthly things, gave his goods to the poor, and embarked on a plank in the sea, asking God to lead him wherever He desired. By God's providence, Mark was cast up on the shores of Libya, where he settled as a hermit on a mountain called Trache. (Some say it was in Ethiopia, but this seems less likely.) There he lived for ninety-five years, never seeing another human being.   Saint Serapion visited him before his death and recorded his life. Serapion asked Mark if there were any Christians whose faith was so great that they could say to a mountain 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and it would be so. Immediately the mountain on which they stood began to move like a wave, but Mark raised his hand and stilled it.   On his deathbed, St Mark prayed for the salvation of all men and gave up his soul to God. Saint Serapion saw an angel carrying Mark's soul, and a hand extended from heaven to receive it. Saint Mark was about 130 years old when he reposed.

He is also called 'Mark the Athenian' because he was born in Athens. When his parents died, he pondered the transience of all earthly things, gave his goods to the poor, and embarked on a plank in the sea, asking God to lead him wherever He desired. By God's providence, Mark was cast up on the shores of Libya, where he settled as a hermit on a mountain called Trache. (Some say it was in Ethiopia, but this seems less likely.) There he lived for ninety-five years, never seeing another human being.   Saint Serapion visited him before his death and recorded his life. Serapion asked Mark if there were any Christians whose faith was so great that they could say to a mountain 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and it would be so. Immediately the mountain on which they stood began to move like a wave, but Mark raised his hand and stilled it.   On his deathbed, St Mark prayed for the salvation of all men and gave up his soul to God. Saint Serapion saw an angel carrying Mark's soul, and a hand extended from heaven to receive it. Saint Mark was about 130 years old when he reposed.

In today's episode of Soccer Matters fans explain what the 2026 World Cup means to them. Glenn shares his take on the possible addition of the Blue Card. Also, Lindsey Horan's love letter to soccer and Glenn's different take. Additionally, Glenn shares some of the CONCACAF Champions League action and Cade Cowell's brace. Finally, Glenn goes over all the dramatic AFCON action and the upcoming final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria. 

This holy defender of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church labored in the final days of the Byzantine Empire, when, pressed on all sides by the Turks, the Emperor in desperation sought union with (or rather submission to) the Papacy in hopes of obtaining aid from the West. It was St Mark who stood almost alone to prevent such a disaster to the Faith.   He was born in Constantinople in 1392 to devout parents. He received a thorough education and seemed destined for a secular career, but at the age of twenty- six he abandoned all worldly claims and became a monk in a small monastery in Nicomedia. Soon the Turkish threat forced him to return to Constantinople, where, continuing in the monastic life, he wrote a number of treatises on prayer and the dogmas of the Church. In time he was ordained priest, then, at the insistence of the Emperor John VIII Paleologos was made Metropolitan of Ephesus. The Emperor also prevailed on him to join the delegation which traveled to the Council of Florence to consider the reunion of the Orthodox Church and the churches under the Papacy. (Saint Mark went as exarch of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, who were unable to attend.)   The Greek delegation included the Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople. All, including Metropolitan Mark, began with great hopes that a true union in faith might result from the Council, but as the sessions proceeded, it soon became clear that Pope Eugenius and his theologians were interested only in securing submission of the Eastern Church to the Papacy and its theology. The Metropolitan spoke forcefully against various Latin dogmas such as the filioque and Purgatory, but the Greek delegation, desperate for western aid, bowed to expediency and agreed to sign a document of Union which would have denied the Orthodox Faith itself. Saint Mark was the only member of the delegation who refused to sign. When the Pope heard of this, he said "The bishop of Ephesus has not signed, so we have achieved nothing!"   When the delegation returned to Constantinople, the signers of the false Union were received with universal condemnation by the people, while Metropolitan Mark was hailed as a hero. The churches headed by Unionists were soon almost empty, while the people flocked to the churches headed by those loyal to Orthodoxy. Saint Mark left the City to avoid concelebrating with the Unionist Patriarch. He was exiled by the Emperor to Lemnos, but was freed in 1442. He continued to oppose the Union until his repose in 1444. In 1452 the Union was officially proclaimed in Constantinople, but the hoped-for Western aid was not forthcoming, and the City fell to the Turks in 1453.

This holy defender of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church labored in the final days of the Byzantine Empire, when, pressed on all sides by the Turks, the Emperor in desperation sought union with (or rather submission to) the Papacy in hopes of obtaining aid from the West. It was St Mark who stood almost alone to prevent such a disaster to the Faith.   He was born in Constantinople in 1392 to devout parents. He received a thorough education and seemed destined for a secular career, but at the age of twenty- six he abandoned all worldly claims and became a monk in a small monastery in Nicomedia. Soon the Turkish threat forced him to return to Constantinople, where, continuing in the monastic life, he wrote a number of treatises on prayer and the dogmas of the Church. In time he was ordained priest, then, at the insistence of the Emperor John VIII Paleologos was made Metropolitan of Ephesus. The Emperor also prevailed on him to join the delegation which traveled to the Council of Florence to consider the reunion of the Orthodox Church and the churches under the Papacy. (Saint Mark went as exarch of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, who were unable to attend.)   The Greek delegation included the Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople. All, including Metropolitan Mark, began with great hopes that a true union in faith might result from the Council, but as the sessions proceeded, it soon became clear that Pope Eugenius and his theologians were interested only in securing submission of the Eastern Church to the Papacy and its theology. The Metropolitan spoke forcefully against various Latin dogmas such as the filioque and Purgatory, but the Greek delegation, desperate for western aid, bowed to expediency and agreed to sign a document of Union which would have denied the Orthodox Faith itself. Saint Mark was the only member of the delegation who refused to sign. When the Pope heard of this, he said "The bishop of Ephesus has not signed, so we have achieved nothing!"   When the delegation returned to Constantinople, the signers of the false Union were received with universal condemnation by the people, while Metropolitan Mark was hailed as a hero. The churches headed by Unionists were soon almost empty, while the people flocked to the churches headed by those loyal to Orthodoxy. Saint Mark left the City to avoid concelebrating with the Unionist Patriarch. He was exiled by the Emperor to Lemnos, but was freed in 1442. He continued to oppose the Union until his repose in 1444. In 1452 the Union was officially proclaimed in Constantinople, but the hoped-for Western aid was not forthcoming, and the City fell to the Turks in 1453.