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==Monasticism==

As a child Luke tried twice to leave home to seek a solitary life of prayer. The first time, he attempted to withdraw to Thessaly, but was captured by soldiers lying in wait for escaped slaves and was returned home.<ref>''Life'', ch. 8.</ref> The second time he had more success, meeting two monks journeying from Rome to Jerusalem<ref>''Life'', ch. 9.</ref> who took him to a monastery in Athens where he received the [[w:Degrees_of_Eastern_Orthodox_monasticism#Stavrophore|small habit]].<ref>''Life'', ch. 10.</ref><ref group="note">Little Schema, or Stavrophore Monk (lit. 'Cross-bearing Monk').</ref> At this point he was only fourteen years old (910 AD), and Luke's mother who was very concerned for him, prayed for her son's return. After seeing his mother in a dream, tearfully calling for her son, the abbot sent him home.

==Hosios Loukas==

Eventually Luke's disciples persuaded him to leave, and he returned to the mainland and settled for the remainder of his life in the far more amenable environment of the present [[w:Hosios Loukas|Hosios Loukas]], where he founded his hermitage ca. 946 AD in the area of Stiris (''which may be a corruption of Soterion, or place of healing'').<ref name=DISTOMO>[http://www.distomo.gr/english/osios_loukas_en.htm ΟΣΙΟΣ ΛΟΥΚΑΣ - HOSIOS LOUKAS].</ref><ref group="note">Midway between [[w:Distomo|Distomo]] (ancient Ambryssos) and the monastery of [[w:Hosios Loukas|Osios Loukas]], lies the [http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca&q=distomo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl village of Stiri], which is named after, but does not occupy, the site of ancient Stiris. (Jeremy McInerney. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=IbNyCyYmq4cC&dq=%22ancient+stiris%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Folds of Parnassos: Land and Ethnicity in Ancient Phokis].'' University of Texas Press, 1999. p.317.)</ref>

==Death==

Saint Luke fell ill in his seventh year at Stirion. Foreseeing his end, the saint confined himself in a [[cell]] and for three months prepared for his departure. When asked where he was to be buried, the monk replied, ''"Throw my body into a ravine to be eaten by wild beasts."'' When the brethren begged him to change these instructions, he commanded them to bury his body on the spot where he lay. Embracing his disciples, he asked them to pray for him, prophesying that the place where he died would someday be the site of a great church and monastery. Then raising his eyes to heaven, he said, ''"Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!"'' and reposed in peace and joy. St Luke fell asleep in the Lord on [[February 7]], 953.

'''In Greek'''<br>

:A brief life of the saint is given by [[w:Photios Kontoglou|Photios Kontoglou]]:

==Notes==

* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4354 St. Luke the Younger]. February 7. Catholic Online.

* Jeremy McInerney. [http://books.google.ca/books?id=IbNyCyYmq4cC&dq=%22ancient+stiris%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Folds of Parnassos: Land and Ethnicity in Ancient Phokis]. University of Texas Press, 1999. 391pp. ISBN 9780292752306

==External Links==

[[Category:Asceticism]]

[[Category:Greek Saints]]

[[Category:Hermits]]

[[Category:Monastics]]

[[Category:Wonderworkers]]