(CE:1078a)
EVANGELIST, one who proclaims glad tidings, that is, the Gospel, particularly one of the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In Christian iconography the evangelists are portrayed by means of four symbolic winged creatures based upon the opening passages
of their respective Gospels. Saint Matthew is symbolized by a human-faced figure; Saint Mark by a lion-faced figure; Saint Luke by an ox-faced figure, and Saint John by an eagle-faced figure.
The New Testament includes three references to other persons who proclaimed good news and deserve being called evangelists. In Acts 21:8, Philip the deacon is called an evangelist. In Ephesians 4:11, evangelists are regarded as occupying a rank lower than apostles and prophets, but higher than pastors and teachers. In 2 Timothy 4:5, Timothy is urged to proclaim the message of the
Gospel.
Saint Mark, the patron saint of the Egyptian church, is known in ecclesiastical records and in the diptychs as "the beholder of God, the Evangelist Mark, the holy apostle and martyr." The Coptic church commemorates his martyrdom on 30 Baramudah.
ARCHBISHOP BASILIOS
