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THE FOURTH MONTH IN THE NAME
OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, On this day took place the translation of the body of Saint Luke
of the pillar, who came from the country of Persia. He was the captain of one hundred soldiers, but he gave up
his appointment, and assumed the garb of the monastic life, and took up
his abode in one of the monasteries of the country of the East; and he
dwelt therein many days. And
when he had finished his ascetic training and his spiritual fight showed
his excellences, he was made a priest in that monastery.
And at the time of his appointment he dressed himself in iron, and
he wore this dress as long as he dwelt in that monastery; and he devoted
himself to fasting, and from that day he fasted seven days and seven
nights at a time. On the
Seventh Day he consecrated the Offering, and partook of the Holy
Mysteries, and then he ate a small bread cake and some herbs.
After this he went up on the top of a pillar, and stood thereon for
three years, and he heard the voice of an angel calling him by name, and
commanding him to get down from the pillar.
And the angel showed him a cross of light, and Luke descended and
followed the voice, which he heard. And
the cross (of light) guided him until it brought him to a certain
monastery, and he dwelt therein many days, and all the men came to him and
were comforted by his doctrine. Then he became a devotee of silence, and he put a stone in
his mouth so that he might not talk at all with any man. Then God commanded him to go to the borders of the city of
Constantinople, and he went to a certain village which was near it, and he
went up on the top of a pillar, and he dwelt thereon for five and forty
years and fought a great spiritual fight.
And God gave him the gift of prophecy, and he performed signs and
wonders, and he healed all the sick folk who came to him.
And God willing that he should leave the toil of this world, Luke
died on the fifteenth day of the month of Takhshash; and he who ministered
unto him went and told the archbishop and the priests concerning his
death. And the archbishop and the priests rose up, and carrying
crosses and censers they came to his abode, and they prayed over him, and
they took him up and carried him to the city of Constantinople, three days
after he died. And they
brought him thither on the seventeenth day of the month of Takhshash, and
laid him in the sanctuary, and they finished the prayer for the third hour
over his holy body; and all those who were gathered together were blessed
by him. Then they put him in a sarcophagus wherein were the bodies of
the saints who were his predecessors, and God made manifest from his body
many signs and wonders, and [many derived] very great benefit there from,
and it healed all the sick who came to it in faith.
Salutation to Luke, the pillar-saint. Glory
be to God Who is glorified in His Saints.
Amen. |
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