The first portraitist of the Virgin Mary

A few days ago, on October 18, we celebrated the feast of Saint Luke (1). But what do we know about the man who was so close to the Virgin Mary and painted the first portrait of her?

According to tradition, it was Saint Luke who first painted three images of the Holy Mother of God holding the Child Jesus in her arms. He submitted them to the approval of the Blessed Virgin, while she was still on this earth. Mary approved these holy images with joy and declared: "May the grace of the One who was born by me be in them!"

Afterwards, St. Luke painted images of the Holy Apostles, passing on to the Church this pious and holy tradition of venerating icons of Christ and his saints.

Saint Luke was a native of the city of Antioch the Great. Of noble birth, he especially excelled in the fields of medical science and pictorial art. During the reign of Emperor Claudius (ca 42 AD), while he was caring for the sick in the region of Thebes in Boeotia, he met the apostle Paul, whose passionate words convinced him that the absolute truth he had been seeking for so many years was to be found among the followers of Jesus Christ.

After being separated from his mentor, Luke returned to Greece to proclaim the Gospel. He settled again in the region of Thebes, where he died peacefully at the age of 80. To honor his faithful servant, God caused a miraculous liquid to flow from his tomb, which healed the eye diseases of those who anointed themselves with it in faith. Thus, even after his death, St. Luke continued to practice medicine!

Many years later (March 3, 357), Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine, had the saint's relic transported to Constantinople through St. Artemios, Duke of Egypt, and placed under the altar of the Church of the Holy Apostles, next to the holy relics of the apostles Andrew and Timothy.

Adapted and translated from:

Orthodox Monastery of Saints Elijah and Elisha

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(1) Saint Luke is one of the four evangelists, the author of the third Gospel, known as the Gospel "of the Holy Virgin".