By Fr. George Dorborakis
This holy man is an offshoot and delight of Greece. His ancestors were from the island of Aegina, who, unable to endure the continual attacks of the Hagarenes, migrated and arrived in central Greece, where the blessed Luke was born. From early childhood he abstained not only from meat, but also from eggs and cheese. His food and drink were barley bread, water, and legumes. By afflicting his body with every form of ascetic hardship and discipline, he considered it his joy to feed the hungry and to give clothing to the naked, and by these deeds he was satisfied. For this reason, because he often gave away even his own garment, he would return to his dwelling naked. And whenever he lifted up his prayers to God, his feet would rise almost a cubit from the ground and appeared not to touch the earth at all. When he later embraced the monastic life, it is impossible to describe the degree of self-control and hardship the blessed one displayed. As a monk he traveled through all the coastal regions, and through the miracles wrought by him he became a cause of salvation for many. Afterwards he ceased his wanderings and remained at the Monastery. Seven years later, in that very place, he foretold his end to all, and thus departed this life.
The life of Venerable Luke of Greece — known to us as Hosios Loukas of Steirion in Boeotia — constitutes a precise and living commentary on the words of the Lord: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” For Venerable Luke indeed, from a very young age, turned with a fervent love toward Christ so strong that it surpassed even his natural love for his parents, especially for his mother, who loved him deeply.
The Hymnographer Saint Joseph repeatedly emphasizes this total love of his:
“You followed the Lord completely from your youth, and for this reason, O glorious one, you abandoned your bond with your parents and worldly affection” (Vespers sticheron).
“You were lifted up by the fervent eros of Christ the Savior and set aside the affection of your parents for His sake, and you became, O Luke, a stranger to all the delights of life, O blessed one” (Ode 3).
His flight from the world because of his love for the Lord was only the beginning. The hymns of the Church note that the young Luke then devoted himself to great struggles of self-restraint and bodily humility, in order to subject the disordered desires of the flesh to the ruling nous and thus conform himself fully to the will of the Lord — something that naturally meant an increase in his love both for God and for his fellow man.
“The sacred Luke, O Savior Lord, desired You wholly, and therefore turned firmly to ascetic struggle, patiently enduring afflictions, labors, and toils, for which he found everlasting delight” (Ode 1).
“You continually disciplined your body, Father Luke, through self-control, constant vigil, and every form of hardship with discernment, and you mastered the impulses of impassioned pleasures” (Ode 1).
“You were shown to be obedient as a servant in every divine commandment, O all-blessed one” (Ode 3).
We must particularly emphasize what the sacred Hymnographer wisely proclaims: that Luke’s rigorous asceticism, rooted in love for the Lord, existed for one purpose — to remain in the commandments of Christ, namely, love for God and love for neighbor. For if the entire ascetic conduct of a Christian does not aim at this goal — love — it is meaningless. It becomes distorted, turning into Pharisaical morality, pietism, pride in empty virtues, and hardness of heart. In such a state, one may have virtues, but not God. Humility is absent, which is the total surrender of oneself to Christ.
“You completed your life with chastity and goodness, continually showing hospitality and generously and abundantly showing mercy to your neighbor” (Ode 6).
It is therefore natural for Saint Joseph to conclude that this simplicity, humility, love, and gentleness of Venerable Luke have placed him in the Kingdom of God together with the holy and righteous Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David:
“You showed, Father, a truly simple, guileless, and humble disposition, full of mercy toward the poor, hospitable, loving solitude, quiet and truly gentle; therefore you were numbered with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David” (Ode 9).
Saint Joseph also reminds us, through two of his hymns, of a divine act that reveals how deeply compassionate and loving God truly is. It is perhaps the high point of the Canon composed for Venerable Luke.
From an early age, as we have said, the Venerable turned fervently toward Christ. He secretly departed from his parents and devoted himself to spiritual struggles, embracing the monastic life. His mother, especially, suffered greatly from his secret departure and, with tears and anguish of soul, begged the Lord to reveal to her where her son was. And the Lord indeed relented. Without Venerable Luke himself desiring it, God revealed him to her.
Thus Luke was crowned by Christ for his complete love toward Him — a love surpassing even parental affection — and his mother received the fruit of her prayer: she learned where her child was. We consider this the pinnacle of the service, because it shows that the Lord yields before the heartfelt supplications of human beings.
It recalls, in some way, the well-known accounts of the intercessions of the Theotokos: those rejected from Paradise because of the “strictness” of the Apostle Peter, the holder of the keys of the Kingdom, were nevertheless received “unlawfully” by the Mother of God, who brought them into Paradise from the side of the gate with her mantle.
“You were wounded by desire for the Lord and regarded all the pleasures of life as nothing. You loved separation from your mother and exile, and you clothed yourself in the monastic habit, O most sacred one. Yet God reveals you, even against your will, O Venerable Luke, for the loving Lord was moved by your mother’s prayers” (Vespers sticheron).
“Having regarded your mother’s longing as nothing, you secretly brought yourself to the place of ascetic struggle. Yet God again revealed you to your mother, who rightly mourned your absence, O most excellent one” (Matins kathisma).
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
