Luke of Jerusalem

Holy Martyr Luke of Jerusalem, also called Luke the Georgian, lived in the thirteenth century. He was born into an honourable and devout Georgian family, the Mukhaisdze. After his father's death, his mother left to labour in a monastery in Jerusalem, leaving her children. At twenty Luke travelled to Jerusalem to see his mother and venerate the holy places; he stayed and became a monk. He was ordained a deacon and learned Arabic well. The brethren recognised his wisdom and asked him to be abbot; for three years he led the monastery without fault.

The devil, envious of the saint, stirred up an influential Persian at the sultan's court, Shekh-⁠Khidar, against him. The sultan gave him possession of the Monastery of the Holy Cross, and Shekh-⁠Khidar treated the Georgian monks cruelly and in the end drove them out. Luke wished to go himself to Shekh-⁠Khidar in defence of his brethren, although they begged him to flee and hide; he was convinced that it was better to die for Christ than to live for the world. The Persian asked nothing of him except that he accept Islam, promising to make him an emir. Luke refused and was beheaded in the year 1277 (other sources give 1273). The severed head turned toward the east and gave thanks to God with a look of peace, and his body was burned.

He is commemorated on 12 February (new style), together with the other Georgian saints of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.