Luke the Evangelist


Luke the Evangelist
Miniature of Saint Luke by Armenian manuscript illuminator Toros Roslin, 13th century.
Apostle, Evangelist, and Martyr
BornBetween 1 AD and 16 AD
Antioch, Roman Empire (modern-day Antakya, Hatay, Turkey)
DiedBetween 84 AD and 100 AD (traditionally aged 84)
Thebes, Boeotia, Achaea, Roman Empire (modern-day Thebes, Greece)
Venerated inMost of all Christian Churches that venerate saints, and in the Druze faith[1]
Major shrinePadua, Italy
Feast
AttributesEvangelist, Physician, a book or a pen, accompanied by a winged ox or calf, painting an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a brush or a palette
PatronageArtists, notaries, bachelors, physicians, goldsmiths, butchers, brewers, glass workers, and others[2]
Major worksGospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles
Luke of Antioch
OccupationChristian missionary and Historian
LanguageKoine Greek
Notable worksGospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles

Luke the Evangelist[a] is one of the Four Evangelists—the four traditionally ascribed authors of the canonical gospels. The Early Church Fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Prominent figures in early Christianity such as Jerome and Eusebius later reaffirmed his authorship, although a lack of conclusive evidence as to the identity of the author of the works has led to discussion in scholarly circles, both secular and religious.

The New Testament mentions Luke briefly a few times, and the Epistle to the Colossians[3] refers to him as a physician (from Greek for 'one who heals'); thus he is thought to have been both a physician and a disciple of Paul.

Since the early years of the faith, Christians have regarded him as a saint. He is believed to have been a martyr, reportedly having been hanged from an olive tree, though some believe otherwise.[b] The Catholic Church and other major denominations venerate him as Saint Luke the Evangelist and as a patron saint of artists, physicians, bachelors, notaries, butchers, brewers, and others; his feast day is 18 October.[4][5]

  1. ^ S. Swayd, Samy (2009). The A to Z of the Druzes. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-81086836-6. They also cover the lives and teachings of some biblical personages, such as Job, Jethro, Jesus, John, Luke, and others
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference catholicsaints.info was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Colossians 4:14
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Catholic News Agency was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "The Calendar". The Church of England. Retrieved 27 March 2021.


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