🔸ꜰᴇᴀꜱᴛᴅᴀʏ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴀɪɴᴛ ʟᴜᴋᴇ 📖✞🔸
Saint Luke, one of the four evangelists, is a significant figure in the Christian Church and a companion of the Apostle Paul. According to tradition, he authored the third synoptic Gospel, known as "According to Luke," as well as the "Acts of the Apostles." His feast day is celebrated by Christians on October 18, a date that is also commemorated by those named Luke.
Tradition suggests that Luke was born in Antioch, Syria, in the 1st century and was among the most educated individuals of his time. Initially a pagan, he is notably absent from Paul’s list of Jewish disciples, and his name derives from the Latin "Lucanus." Little is known about how or when he converted to Christianity.
According to tradition, Luke is credited with painting an icon of the Virgin Mary. He became a companion of the Apostle Paul from his second missionary journey, as seen in the "Acts of the Apostles." He traveled with Paul to Macedonia from Troas and likely stayed in Philippi until the conclusion of Paul’s third missionary journey. He also accompanied Paul from Caesarea to Rome.
After Paul’s death, there is little concrete information about Luke’s activities. However, tradition holds that he preached the Christian faith in Dalmatia, France, Italy, and Macedonia (Epiphanius), as well as in Achaea (Gregory of Nazianzus). Simeon the Translator states that Luke journeyed from Rome to the East, crossed Libya, and reached Egypt, where he was ordained as a bishop in the Thebaid region, ultimately passing away there.
Other sources and Church Fathers indicate that he died in Thebes of Boeotia (Maximus Margunius), while Gregory the Theologian claims he was martyred. Isidore of Seville notes that he died at the age of 74, while Nicetas Callistus asserts he was 80.
An ancient tradition describes Luke as a painter who created an icon of the Virgin Mary, a notion supported by Orthodox hymnography. The Evangelist Luke was well-versed in Hellenistic culture and the historical methods of his era. His writings, the "Gospel" and the "Acts of the Apostles," reflect a proficient use of Hellenistic Greek and stand as some of the earliest historical texts in Christianity.
In the Western Christian tradition, Saint Luke is recognized as the patron saint of artists, doctors, surgeons, students, and butchers.
~ ☦ ~