Venerable Luke of Steirion in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

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.

February: Day 7: Venerable Luke of Greece

February: Day 7:
Venerable Luke of Greece
 
(On the Grave Sin of Children's Disrespect for Their Parents)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Luke, whose memory is celebrated today, was born in Hellas to poor farmers, shepherded sheep and worked the land. Even in his youth he was distinguished by extraordinary piety: he was modest, silent, ate little food, he loved to help the poor, often gave them food taken from home for himself, and himself remained hungry. After the death of his father, he secretly went to a monastery. The mother grieved greatly for her son and prayed to God for his return. And what happened? A woman appeared to the abbot of the monastery where Luke labored in a dream more than once and reproachfully said: “Why do you offend me, a poor widow? Return to me, my only son, whom you took, the consolation of my old age, otherwise I will not cease to cry out to God.” The dream was repeated on the second and third night. Then the abbot realized that this dream was an inspiration from God, called Luke to him and began to say to him: “How dare you deceive us? You assured that you have no parents, and yet your mother has been reproaching me for the third night? Return to your mother without delay.” Luke silently bowed to the abbot, said goodbye to the brethren, and went to his mother. Great was the mother’s joy! She thanked God, and then warmly embraced her son. Luke stayed with his mother for four months and, wishing to leave again, began to ask his mother’s permission. His mother blessed him and let him go.

History of the Return of the Relics of Hosios Loukas from Venice to His Monastery in 1986

The sacred relics of the Venerable and God-bearing Luke, known more popularly as Hosios Loukas, which were treasured in the magnificent katholikon of his eponymous Monastery until 1460, due to the occupation of the Boeotian land by the Turks, were transferred by the Hosioloukaite monks of the Monastery to Lefkada. From there, due to the arrival of the Turks in Lefkada, they were transported to Bosnia by the rulers of Bosnia, who bought them from the Turks thinking they were the relics of Luke the Evangelist, since there had been confusion between the two saints bearing the same name.