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We are Glad you stopped by
St. Mark the Grave-Digger's Workshop!
Saint Marks Workshop is owned and operated by Father George Brooks, Rector of All Saints of America Russian Orthodox Church
(ROCOR) in DeQueen Arkansas.
St. Marks Workshop is a separate entity from All Saints of America Orthodox
Mission. St. Mark's Workshop is how Father George earns his living!
St. Marks Workshop specializes in hand made
wooden furnishings for Orthodox Christian homes, churches and funerals. Some examples are:
* Wooden coffins
(with Trisagion Prayer and 3 bar cross)
* Analogions
* Litya tables
* Wall Crosses
* Kiots for icon display
* Shrines for outdoor icon display
* Altars
* Reader stands
* Prokomedia tables
* Church benches with and without storage
* Iconostasis
* Made
to order products pertaining to Orthodox Life and Worship
All of our furnishings are custom built using
only the finest available woods and Minwax finishes. The majority of our furnishings are built using durable, lightweight
white pine ( other woods are available) and finished in the Minwax finish of your choice. Please contact us with your
needs.
St. Mark’s Workshop is able to handle most any size Custom Woodworking project.
Father George has years of woodworking experience and does his very best, through the help of God, to provide the highest
quality funishings for Orthodox Church and home life.
All of our furnishings are hand made and
finished at St. Marks Workshop, 193 Brooks Road, Dequeen, Arkansas
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Venerable Mark
the Grave-Digger of
the Kiev Near
Caves
Commemorated on
December 29
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned
in the Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts. Theophilus and John, so loved each other that they prevailed
upon St. Mark to prepare a double grave so they could be buried side by side.
Many years later, the older of the
two brothers was away on monastery business. During this time his brother John fell ill and died. Several days later, St.
Theophilus returned and went with the brethren to view his brother's body. Seeing that he lay at the higher place in their
common grave, he became indignant with St. Mark and said, "Why did you put him in my place? I am older than he."
The cave-dweller Mark, bowed humbly to St. Theophilus and asked that he forgive him. Turning to the dead man, he said, "Arise,
give this place to your older brother, and you lie down in the other place." And the dead man moved to the lower place in
the grave. Seeing this, St. Theophilus fell down at the knees of St. Mark begging his forgiveness. The cave-dweller Mark told
Theophilus that he ought to be concerned for his own salvation, because soon he would join his brother in that place.
Hearing this, St. Theophilus became terrified and decided that he would soon die. He gave away everything that he possessed,
keeping only his mantle, and every day he awaited the hour of death. No one was able to stop his tears, nor to tempt him with
tasty food. Tears were his bread by day and by night (Ps 41/42:3). God granted him several years more for repentance, which
he spent in fasting and lamentation. He even went blind from continuous weeping.
St. Mark forsaw the hour of
his death and told Theophilus he would soon depart this life. Theophilus pleaded, "Father, either take me with you, or restore
my sight." St. Mark said to Theophilus, "Do not desire death, it shall come in its own time, even if you do not wish it. Let
this be the sign of your impending end: three days before you depart this world, your eyesight will return."
The
words of the saint were fulfilled. The body of St. Theophilus was placed in the Antoniev Cave in the grave together with his
brother St. John, near the relics of St. Mark. Their memory is celebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of
Great Lent
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