Luka (Voyno-Yasenetsky)

Archbishop Luka
Archbishop Luka Voyno-Yasenetsky
prelate, confessor
Born	9 May 1877 Kerch, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	11 June 1961(1961-06-11) (aged 84) Simferopol, Soviet Union
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodoxy
Canonized	25 May 1996, Sarov Monastery by Holy Governing Synod, Russian Orthodox Church
Major shrine	Holy Trinity Cathedral, Simferopol
Feast	May 29/June 11 (Repose)
Attributes	a surgeon, the founder of purulent surgery in Russia USSR State Prize in 1944

Archbishop Luka ^[1][2](Luke, Russian: Архиепи́скоп Лука́, born Valentin Felixovich Voyno-Yasenetsky, Russian: Валенти́н Фе́ликсович Во́йно-Ясене́цкий; April 27/May 9, 1877 in Kerch – June 11, 1961, Simferopol) was an outstanding surgeon, the founder of purulent surgery, a spiritual writer, a bishop of Russian Orthodox Church, and an archbishop of Simferopol and of the Crimea since May 1946. He was a laureate of Stalin Prize in medicine in 1946.

His most important work in medicine is Purulent Surgery Essays, 1934. This is still a reference book and a manual for surgeons. As a noticeable religious figure, he was subjected to political repressions and spent 11 years in internal exile. Luka was born into a family of faithful parents but, according to his memoirs, did not receive a religious upbringing from his family. He apprehended the Christ's teaching by assiduous reading of the New Testament.

Glorification

He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church on May 25, 1996. His feast day is May 29/June 11 (Julian [Old] Calendar/Gregorian [New] Calendar). On March 17, 1996, St. Luke's remains were disinterred, with many thousands of people attending the ceremony. It is said that an indescribable aroma arose from his relics, while his heart was discovered incorrupt, a testament to the great love he bore towards Christ and his fellow men. Three days later on March 20, 1996, his relics were transferred to the Church of the Holy Trinity^[3].

His relics which continue to work countless miracles are found in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Simferopol and in many other Orthodox churches around the world. He is beloved and celebrated worldwide. In Greece portions of relics of Saint Luke are found in Sagmata monastery, Dovra monastery and few other churches.

Gallery

• 
  Russian icon of Saint Luke of Crimea
• 
  The Bishop of Tashkent and Turkestan Innokenty (Pustynsky) and Saint Luke in 1921 (St. Luke was still a priest by that time)
• 
  Holy Trinity cathedral in Simferopol, where the relics of St. Luke are held.

See also

• Confessor of the Faith
• Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol and Crimea (OrthodoxWiki)
• Pyogenic infection
• Unmercenary Physicians

Sources

• Archdeacon Vasiliy Marushchak, The Blessed Surgeon: The Life of Saint Luke of Simferopol, Divine Ascent Press, 2002
• Archmandrite Nektarios Antonopoulos, Saint Luke of Simferopol and Crimea I Embraced Martyrdom: An Autobiography, Porphyra Publications, 2013 (in Greek)

References

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