Venice. A city of water, bridges, carnivals, and… saints. The main symbol of Venice is the winged lion. But few people know that the lion is a symbol of Saint Mark, and Saint Mark himself… was stolen. More precisely, his relics were smuggled from Alexandria (Egypt) to Venice in 828. This is one of the most daring and successful operations in the history of relic transfers. So, how two Venetian merchants deceived Muslims, hid an evangelist under pork meat, and made Venice rich and famous.

Who is Saint Mark

Mark is the author of the second Gospel, a companion of the Apostle Peter, the founder of the church in Alexandria. It is believed that he died a martyr's death in 68 AD — he was dragged through the streets of the city to death. Buried in Alexandria. In the 4th century, Christians built a church over his grave.

The symbol of Mark is the winged lion. Why a lion? Because the Gospel of Mark begins with the "voice of one crying in the wilderness," and the lion is a symbol of strength and kingship. The winged lion with a book became the emblem of the city of Venice.

By the 7th century, Alexandria fell under the rule of Arab Muslims. Christians suffered persecution. The relics of Saint Mark were at risk of destruction or desecration. This is when the Venetians appeared.

Venice seeks its own saint

In the 9th century, Venice was not yet a great republic, but already ambitious. It had a problem: unlike Rome, Constantinople, and Ravenna, Venice did not have its "own" saint whose relics would rest in the city. And this was important — saints protected the city, attracted pilgrims (read, money), and gave status.

The Venetian Doge (governor) Giovanni I Partecipazio dreamed of a saint for the basilica he was building (the future Saint Mark's Basilica). In 827, two Venetian merchants — Buono di Tribuno and Rustico di Torcello — set off for Alexandria on business. And, perhaps, with a secret mission.

Operation "Boiled Pork"

Upon arriving in Alexandria, the merchants learned that the relics of Saint Mark were stored in a church guarded by Muslims and Greek monks (who were not very willing to part with the relic). But one of the monks, Theodore, agreed to help for a bribe (or for ideological reasons).

The plan was brilliant. The Venetians bribed the guards at the gates. At night, they stole the relics from the church, placed them in a basket, and covered them with… pork meat. For Muslims, pork is an abomination, they would never touch it. During the search on the way out, the guards sneezed, not checking the basket. The relics were carried out of Alexandria on a ship.

According to another version, the relics were hidden in a barrel of salted fish — also rotten and unappetizing. Legend says that on the way to Venice, the ship was caught in a storm, but Saint Mark calmed the waves, appearing to the captain.

On January 31, 828, the ship arrived in Venice. The relics were solemnly transferred to a temporary church (which was later replaced by the basilica). The Doge himself carried the relics on his shoulders.

What happened next

Saint Mark became the patron of Venice. The winged lion became the symbol of the city. The Basilica of Saint Mark was expanded and decorated, and the relics were placed inside. Venice not only gained a saint but also a strong tourist (then — pilgrimage) flow. The Pope recognized the legality of the "transfer" — in those times, relic smuggling was treated leniently.

In 1094, during a fire in the basilica, the relics were "miraculously" found again — hidden from enemies. Since then, they have been resting under the altar in the basilica. Access to them is open to believers.

The Alexandrian church, having lost the relics, protested, but was unable to recover them. Venice was too powerful.

Relic smuggling as a norm of the Middle Ages

What would be called criminality today was a common practice in the Middle Ages. Relics of saints were transported, stolen, gifted, sold, and exchanged. Every city wanted to have its own saint — he protected from the plague, floods, enemies. Relics attracted pilgrims who left money. Churches with relics received indulgences and leniencies from the Pope.

There were even professional "relic carriers" — cunning monks who for a fee found remains and handled documents. The most famous case after Venice was the theft of the relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari (1087). They also used pork, but in a different variation.

The Pope did not always approve, but often turned a blind eye — if the city was an ally.

What became of the participants

Buono di Tribuno and Rustico di Torcello became heroes of Venice. They were buried with honors. Descendants of the merchants received privileges. No monuments were erected for them (Venice does not like monuments), but their names are engraved in the basilica.

The Greek monk Theodore, who helped steal the relics, fled with the Venetians and was paid generously. Later, he went into a monastery near Venice, where he died.

The Muslim guards who took the bribe were most likely executed when the deception was uncovered. But history is silent.

Why is this important today

Saint Mark is an integral part of Venice's identity. His feast (April 25) is a state holiday. Venetians believe that he still protects the city from floods (although acqua alta still floods). The winged lion with a book ("Peace be with you, Mark, my evangelist") is the logo of the municipality, the airline, and the football club.

The history of relic smuggling is a matter of pride. Even tourists are told this story with a smile. They say, our ancestors were cunning and lucky.

In 2026, it is planned to restore the sarcophagus of Saint Mark in the basilica to mark the 1200th anniversary of the smuggling (it will be in 2028). Already now, frescoes depicting the theft of the relics can be seen — on the ceiling of the basilica. On one fresco, Venetians are loading a barrel with relics onto a ship, and on the other — welcoming them in Venice.

What do the Copts (Egyptian Christians) think

The Alexandrian Coptic Church does not recognize the legality of the transfer of relics. They believe that the relics of Saint Mark remained in Egypt (although lost), and in Venice — a forgery. But this does not prevent Catholic pilgrims from worshiping the Venetian relics.

In 1968, part of the relics (presumably) were returned from Venice to Cairo — a gesture of goodwill. There they are stored in the Coptic cathedral. But disputes continue.

However, Venice is not concerned. It has a legend. And it sells it to millions of tourists every year.

Venice and modern smuggling: traditions?

Maritime smuggling in Venice has not ceased. 1200 years later, cigarettes, drugs, antiques are transported through the Venice port. Only now, not pork, but cocaine is hidden in containers of tomatoes. And instead of relics — stolen paintings from local churches.

The Venice police are fighting this. But tradition is tradition. Venice has always been a city of merchants who know how to circumvent the rules. In 2025, a network of ancient manuscript smuggling from the Marciana Library was uncovered — right under the nose of Saint Mark!

But the winged lion is silent. It seems that he approves.

Conclusion: cunning for the sake of faith

The theft of the relics of Saint Mark is a story about how far people can go when they are convinced of their righteousness. For Venetians, it was an act of saving the relic from "infidels." For Egyptian Christians, it was a robbery. But the fact remains: thanks to this smuggling, Venice became great, and Saint Mark found his famous temple. And if you come to Venice, look up at the winged lion. He will wink at you. He knows the secret.

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