Orthodox Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ^

[Kolokotronis]

Apolytikion:

Third Tone

O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Kontakion:

Fourth Tone

As a disciple of the Word of God, with Paul you illuminated all the earth and dispelled the gloom in writing Christ's divine Gospel.

Reading:

This Apostle was an Antiochean, a physician by trade, and a disciple and companion of Paul. He wrote his Gospel in Greek after Matthew and Mark, after which he wrote the Acts of the Apostles, and dedicated both works to Theophilus, who, according to some, was Governor of Achaia. He lived some eighty-six years and died in Achaia, perhaps in Patras, the capital of this district. His emblem is the calf, the third symbolical beast mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), which is a symbol of Christ's sacrificial and priestly office, as Saint Irenaeus says.

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press, Northridge, CA Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press, Northridge, CA

[Kolokotronis]

Ping

[katnip]

O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Bump

[eleni121]

The Beloved Physician

- I knew nothing about this until prompted by your reminder I did a little research and came up with this fascinating article.

http://www.traces-cl.com/archive/2000/novembre/luca.htm

[Kolokotronis]

WOW!!!!

[Agrarian]

St. Luke was a physician, historian, and iconographer; a man of science, letters, and art. He was a "Renaissance man" before there was a Renaissance!

[katnip]

Thank you for that post. I need to save it to read tomorrow.

[lightman]

A prayer befitting the festival of St. Luke the Physician:

Blessed Lord,
we ask your loving care and protection for those who are sick
in body, mind, or spirit and who desire our prayers.
Take from them all fears and help them put their trust in you,
that they may feel your strong arms around them.
Touch them with your renewing love,
that they may know wholeness in you and glorify your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.

[siunevada]

Another feast day shared by the East and West. In our poverty, may it remind us of the riches we share.

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Feast of St. Luke the evangelist, October 18, 2005!

[eleni121]

Uplifting prayers - there are never enough and this is one of the most sublime.

Many thanks.

[lightman]

St. Luke was a physician, historian, and iconographer; a man of science, letters, and art.

And don't forget music! The great canticles of Luke 1 and Luke 2 form the backbone of Morning and Evening Prayer for both Eastern and Western Christendom.

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Feast of St. Luke the evangelist, October 18, 2006!

[Salvation]

Saint Luke, the Evangelist
Feast Day
October 18th



Lanceloot Blondeel
Saint Luke Painting the Virgin's Portrait
1545 -- Oil on canvas
Groeninge Museum, Bruges

---

Saint Luke , born of a pagan family, was a convert to the faith. He was a companion of Saint Paul, who called him "the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14), and Luke's Gospel was written in accordance with Paul's preaching. He accompanied the Apostle Paul on two of his missionary journeys, and was with Paul in Rome when the Emperor Nero imprisoned Paul. Luke also wrote the account of the early days of the Church, Acts of the Apostles. According to tradition, Luke was also an artist who painted the likeness of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition assigns Luke the emblem of the Ox, from Revelation 4:7, the description of the four winged creatures who are thought to represent the Four Evangelists -- the others are Matthew (Man), Mark (Lion), and John (Eagle).

Collect
Father, you chose Luke the Evangelist to reveal by preaching and writing the mystery of your love for the poor.
Unite in one heart and spirit all who glory in your name, and let all nations come to see your salvation.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: II Timothy 4:10-17
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-9
After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'