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Luke the Evangelist - Tetravangelo E140 of the Great Lavra Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Saint Luke, also known as Luke the Evangelist, is believed to have been a physician from Antioch, and is creditted as the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. For the former, he is believed to have been an 'ear-witness' -- collecting the stories as best he could in order to render 'an orderly account' (Luke 1: 3); for the latter, he was at least in part an eye-witness, in that he travelled periodically with Paul. It would appear that he lived to a ripe old age, and died at 84 in the Boeotia, a part of Greece.
Luke was not only an historian, but also, it is believed, a painter -- and a creator of the first icons. He is depicted below, painting an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thus he has been considered not only the patron saint of physicians, but also of artists.
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Icon by unidentified Russion painter, 16th Century. |
In the Morning Prayer Service for October 18, 2020, the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral shares a reflection on St. Luke, and includes the special prayer for this feast day, shared here for your own reflection and enjoyment.
Almighty God,
who inspired Luke the physician
to proclaim the love and healing power of your Son,
give your Church, by the grace of the Spirit
and the medicine of the gospel,
the same love and power to heal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
AMEN
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