HOLY APOSTLE LUKE (SVETI LUKA)

He was born in Antioch. In his youth, he studied well Greek philosophy, medicine and icon painting. At the time of the work of Jesus on earth, St. Luke came to Jerusalem and there He saw the Savior face to face, heard His saving science and became a witness to His wonderful works. After believing in the Lord, St. Luke was counted among the Seventy Apostles and sent to the sermon. Together with Cleopas, he saw the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). After the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, Luke returned to Antioch and there he became a staff member of Apostle Paul with whom he traveled to Rome, turning the Jews and the pagans in the Christ's faith.

At the request of the Christians he wrote the Gospel, about 60th years. After the martyrdom death of St.Apostle Paul, St. Luke preached the Gospel throughout Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia and elsewhere. He draw the icon of mother Mary - and not just one, but three icons - and also the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Hence, St. Luke is considered the founder of the Christian icon painting. He also visited Goren Misir in his old age. From Misir, he returned to Greece, where he continued to preach and turn people to Christ with great zeal, not considering his old age. St. Luke wrote the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, both devoting them to Theophilus, the prince of Achaia. He was eighty-four years old when wicked idolaters subjected him to torture because of Christ and hanged him on an olive tree in the city of Tiva (Thebes) Beotiska. The miraculous relics of this magnificent saint during the time of Constantine's son, Emperor Constantius, were transferred to Constantinople