The story of the life of the Evangelist saint Mark is largely cloaked in legend. It’s after he died that history takes over, and in adventurous ways too. The year is 828, and the Doge’s Palace nearby has just been built, although it is more of a fort ready for battle than the light welcoming palace we see today.
There is no Basilica yet, only a small chapel for the doge’s private use. As Venetians grew stronger they could not suffer being under the dictates of the Pope from Rome, and at every turn they challenge his authority. The Pope’s authority comes from being the heir to St. Peter, the founder of the Vatican church. So, what Venice needs is a saint of their own, a relic around which to build their own independent church. And, in 829, a cunning scheme is set in place to recover the body of st. Mark the Evangelist, all in the name of religion of course. A proper task force is set up and sent on mission to Alexandria, Egypt where the saint’s body is resting.
Bon da Malamocco and Andrea da Torcello, two respected tribunes appointed by the Doge, lead the expedition, and once they arrive in Egypt, they feign a spiritual visit to the church where st. Mark’s body is preserved; once they are left alone to prey inside the chapel, they spring into action. It’s all been planned, they retrieve the body without making any noise and replace it with that of another saint, saint Claudia.
So far so good, and so they hurriedly carry the spoils hidden in a chest onto the ship. However, just before leaving the harbour, the Muslim guards wish to inspect the ship for security purposes. After a thorough search of the decks, they reach the container in which St. Mark’s body is hidden under layers of pork meat, unholy for any muslim. The guards remove the lid, look inside and immediately start shouting in terrified tones “Kazir, Kazir” meaning “Pork, Pork!”, and disembark the ship in a flurry. After the commotion dies down, the Venetian party is allowed to leave the port,
and after a fierce storm at sea, they finally return to Venice, where they are welcomed as stately heroes who were able to return st. Mark to his rightful home.
Although, it has to be said, to this day no one really knows exactly where his body actually is.
