St Mark Testing

The Investigation of the Remains in the Basilica of St Mark in Venice

On 19th July 2005 the following response was issued on behalf of the Catholic Church to an enquiry as to whether scientific testing might be permitted to confirm or deny the identity of the remains said to be those of St Mark in the Basilica of St Mark in Venice (English translation beneath):

I dati sul corpo di San Marco sono stati pubblicati nei volumi di Leonardo Manin, Memorie storico-critiche intorno la vita, translazione, e invenzioni di san Marco evangelista principale protettore di Venezia, Venezia 1815 e 1835. La Chiesa da allora ha ritenuto sufficienti le notizie e non intende procedere ad altre ricognizioni della tomba.
Distinti saluti. Ettore Vio, Proto di San Marco

The data on the body of St Mark have been published in the Leonardo Manin volumes, Memorie storico-critiche intorno la vita, translazione, e invenzioni di san Marco evangelista principale protettore di Venezia, Venice 1815 and 1835. The Church from then has considered this information as sufficient and does not intend to proceed to other investigations of the tomb.
Best regards. Ettore Vio, Procurator of St Marks

In response to this statement, I have prepared the following Proposal for a Scientific Examination of the Remains of St Mark, which sets out in detail the case for such an investigation.

sanmarcoproposal.pdf 409 kB (Revised January 2007)

It is to be hoped that these considerations will prompt a public debate on this issue and that the Church may be persuaded by reasoned argument that an appropriate investigation should be allowed to proceed.

Visitors are encouraged to make their views on the issue known via the Contact Form on this site or directly (and politely) to Arch. Ettore Vio, Proto di San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia, Italy