St Luke the Evangelist

Saint Luke the Evangelist (1st century) was a physician, missionary companion of Saint Paul, and the inspired author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Born in Antioch, Luke was a Gentile convert to Christianity, which makes him unique among the New Testament writers. His profession as a doctor gave him a compassionate outlook, and tradition remembers him as the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Luke’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ mercy, compassion for the poor, and care for sinners and outcasts. His writings emphasize the role of women, the universality of salvation, and the work of the Holy Spirit. He is also associated with the tradition of sacred art, believed by some to have painted early icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After years of ministry, Luke is thought to have died a martyr, though details of his death are uncertain. His relics are venerated in Padua, Italy, and Thebes, Greece.