Saint Luke
Saint Luke the Evangelist (born c. 1 AD in Antioch, Syria (modern Turkey); died c. 84 AD in Boeotia, Greece (traditional)) was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, together comprising about 28% of the New Testament — more than any other single author. He was a physician and a companion of Saint Paul. His Gospel is notable for its emphasis on mercy, the poor, women, and Gentiles; it contains the Magnificat, the Benedictus, the Annunciation, the Nativity narrative, the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Road to Emmaus, and many other uniquely Lukan passages. He is the patron saint of physicians, artists, painters, and surgeons. His feast day is October 18.
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| Saint Luke | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 18 |
| Profession | Physician; Evangelist; companion of Paul; historian of the early Church |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox; all Christian traditions; New Testament author; companion of Saint Paul; physician; artist (by tradition) |
| Patronage | Physicians; surgeons; artists; painters; notaries; brewers; students; butchers; bachelor physicians; Antioch; Padua (partially); the Evangelists |
| Attributes | Winged ox or bull (his Evangelist symbol — the ox represents the sacrifice of Christ, beginning his Gospel with the priestly Zechariah); physician's tools; book (the Gospel); painter's palette and brush (the portrait legend); scroll; the Gospel of Luke; the Acts of the Apostles |
| Birthplace | Antioch, Syria (modern Antakya, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Thebes, Boeotia, Greece (traditional) or Ephesus (alternative) |
| Cause of Death | Traditional accounts say he died of natural death at advanced age in Greece; some accounts say martyrdom by hanging from an olive tree; his feast is not classified as a martyrdom in the Western tradition |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santa Giustina, Padua, Italy — his skull relic (carbon-dated to 1st century); a major pilgrimage destination; Padua's oldest church; also St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic — his relics brought by Emperor Charles IV; also Rome (Santa Maria Maggiore has the Madonna Salus Populi Romani attributed to his brush by tradition) |
| Liturgical Class | Feast (universal Roman Calendar); October 18 |
| Historic Class | Double of the Second Class; October 18 |
Biography and scriptural account
Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14) and a Gentile from Antioch in Syria. He joined Saint Paul on his missionary journeys and is present for the famous we passages in Acts (Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16), which indicate the author's personal presence.
He composed the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles — a two-volume work addressed to someone named Theophilus, comprising approximately 28% of the New Testament. His Gospel is addressed to Gentile readers, emphasizes mercy and universal salvation, gives the most detailed accounts of the Nativity and Resurrection appearances, and contains the largest number of parables unique to a single Gospel (the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and others).
He remained with Paul during his imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11) and is the only companion still with Paul in his final letter. Tradition holds he died in Thebes in Greece at an advanced age, though some accounts mention martyrdom.
Medieval tradition credits him with painting the first icon of the Virgin Mary — the portrait of Our Lady of Czenstochowa (Poland) and the Madonna Salus Populi Romani (Rome, in Santa Maria Maggiore) are among the icons attributed to him.
Significant locations
Legend
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Parishes
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Media
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Basilica of Santa Giustina, Padua, Italy — skull relic (carbon-dated to 1st century).
- St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic — relics brought by Charles IV.
- Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome — the Madonna Salus Populi Romani icon attributed by tradition to his brush.
Feast day
October 18
Veneration
Saint Luke is venerated universally in all Christian traditions. His feast (October 18) is one of the great Feasts of the Roman Calendar. He is the patron of physicians, artists, and painters.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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