Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist was born in Antioch, Syria. He was a physician and a companion of Saint Paul the Apostle. He was sent by the Lord to spread the message of the Resurrection and the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. He also accompanied the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and remained by his side even when all the others had abandoned him.
After the martyrdom of the leading Apostles, Saint Luke preached the Gospel in Achaia, Libya, Egypt, and Thebes, where he completed his earthly life through martyrdom. According to tradition, he was the first to paint the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the icons of the foremost Apostles Peter and Paul.
The Gospel according to Saint Luke was written in Rome in AD 62–63, under the guidance of the Apostle Paul. In it, Luke sought to recount all that was known to Christians about Christ’s earthly life and teachings, providing a historical account and testimony to the truth of Christian faith. He carefully investigated and presented the events of His life, referring, among others to the oral tradition of our Church.
The Gospel according to Saint Luke emphasizes the universal nature of salvation, accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Saint Luke also authored the Acts of the Apostles, in which he recounts their labours following the Ascension of the Saviour, as well as the deliberations of the Apostolic Council, a landmark event in the separation of Christianity from Judaism.
