DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0198
170 CLASSICAL TOUR Ch. IV.
very minute inspection is often rendered neces-
sary by the gloominess of the place.
The reader may perhaps wish to know how
and when St. Mark, whose life and evangelical
writings seem to have no connexion with the
Venetian history, acquired such consideration in
the city of Venice, as to become its patron
Saint, and to give his name to the most splendid
and celebrated of its churches. The following
account may possibly satisfy his curiosity.
In the year eight hundred and twenty-nine,
two Venetian merchants of the names of Bono
and Rustico, then at Alexandria contrived, either
by bribery or by stratagem, to purloin the
body of St. Mark at that time in the possession
of the Mussulmen, and to convey it to Venice.
On its arrival, it was transported to the Ducal
palace, and deposited by the then Doge in his
own chapel. St. Mark was shortly after de-
clared the patron and protector of the Republic;
and the lion which, in the mystic vision of
Ezekiel, is supposed to represent this evangelist,
was emblazoned on its standards, and elevated
on its towers. The church of St. Mark was
erected immediately after this event, and the
saint has ever since retained his honors. But
the reader will learn with surprise, that not-
very minute inspection is often rendered neces-
sary by the gloominess of the place.
The reader may perhaps wish to know how
and when St. Mark, whose life and evangelical
writings seem to have no connexion with the
Venetian history, acquired such consideration in
the city of Venice, as to become its patron
Saint, and to give his name to the most splendid
and celebrated of its churches. The following
account may possibly satisfy his curiosity.
In the year eight hundred and twenty-nine,
two Venetian merchants of the names of Bono
and Rustico, then at Alexandria contrived, either
by bribery or by stratagem, to purloin the
body of St. Mark at that time in the possession
of the Mussulmen, and to convey it to Venice.
On its arrival, it was transported to the Ducal
palace, and deposited by the then Doge in his
own chapel. St. Mark was shortly after de-
clared the patron and protector of the Republic;
and the lion which, in the mystic vision of
Ezekiel, is supposed to represent this evangelist,
was emblazoned on its standards, and elevated
on its towers. The church of St. Mark was
erected immediately after this event, and the
saint has ever since retained his honors. But
the reader will learn with surprise, that not-