St. Luke the Evangelist
St. Luke was a physician from Syrian Antioch, a faithful companion of the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys, and the author of the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles.
He remained at Paul's side even when others had forsaken him, and after the deaths of Peter and Paul he preached in Achaia, Libya, and Egypt before reposing in Thebes. Church tradition honors him as the first iconographer, who painted icons of the Most Holy Theotokos that received her blessing.
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up.
Troparion · Tone 5
Let us praise with sacred songs the holy Apostle Luke, the recorder of the joyous Gospel of Christ and the scribe of the Acts of the Apostles, for his writings are a testimony of the Church of Christ: he is the physician of human weaknesses and infirmities. He heals the wounds of our souls, and constantly intercedes for our salvation!
Kontakion · Tone 2
Let us praise the godly Luke: he is the true preacher of piety, the orator of ineffable mysteries and the star of the Church, for the Word, Who alone knows the hearts of men, chose him, with the wise Paul, to be a teacher of the Gentiles!
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