St Luke is one of the Four Evangelists, the traditionally ascribed authors of the four gospels. It is also generally believed that he wrote the Acts of the Apostles. He is mentioned a few times in the New Testament and the Epistle to the Colossians refers to him as a physician. He is also thought to have been a disciple of St Paul.

Many scholars believe that Luke was born of a Greek family and lived in the Hellenistic city of Antioch in Ancient Syria, and it is widely accepted that the theology of Luke–Acts points to a gentile Christian writing for a gentile audience or else to a community made up of both Jewish and gentile Christians.

Luke died at age 84 in Boeotia, near Thebes in central Greece. According to one tradition, he died a martyr, reportedly having been hanged from an olive tree. Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Greek historian of the 14th century recorded that Luke's tomb was located in Thebes and later transferred to Constantinople in the year 357.

As with many saints, there are various claims as to where his remains are today. In Luke’s case these claims account for some eight bodies and nine heads, located in a wide range of places! However following scientific investigation and carbon dating, it Is generally now believed that Luke’s body lies in the Abbey of Santa Giustina in Padua, his head in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague and a rib at his tomb at the Holy Church of Luke the Evangelist in Thebes.

In traditional depictions, St Luke is often portrayed with an ox or bull, generally regarded as sacrificial animals, because his Gospel stresses the sacrificial nature of Christ's ministry. Today he is venerated a patron saint of artists, physicians, bachelors, notaries, butchers and brewers.

During the Eucharist the laying on of hands for healing and anointing with oils will be offered. NB We will be joined at this service by an Interfaith choir from two neighbouring congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

Picture above is the Bull of St. Luke from St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Dry Ridge, Ohio. Photo by Nheyob - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37172709