St Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke the Evangelist Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Luke the Evangelist is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as a close companion of the Apostle Paul. His feast day is celebrated on October 18, and on this day people named Luke, Loukas, Lukas, Louka, and Lucas, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke the Evangelist was one of the most important figures in the early Christian Church. He is traditionally believed to have been a physician and a highly educated writer who carefully recorded the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

He later became a close companion of St. Paul the Apostle, traveling with him during several missionary journeys.

Author of the Gospel of Luke

St. Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke, one of the four Gospels of the New Testament. His Gospel emphasizes compassion, mercy, and the message of salvation for all people.

He also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the growth of the early Christian Church and the missionary work of the apostles.

Tradition and Legacy

Church tradition also associates St. Luke with early Christian art, and he is often considered the patron saint of physicians and artists.

His writings remain among the most important sources describing the life of Christ and the early Church.

Greek Name Day for Luke

Because St. Luke the Evangelist is commemorated on October 18, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Luke

Loukas

Lukas

Louka

Lucas

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Luke the Evangelist Is Celebrated

The feast of St. Luke the Evangelist is observed each year on October 18 in the Greek Orthodox Church. The day commemorates the evangelist who recorded the life of Christ and helped document the early history of the Christian Church.