Saint
Luke of Simferopol
New Calendar June 11 Old Calendar June 24
Why they are a saint
Valentin Felixovich (Voyno-Yasenetsky), was born on April 14, 1877 in Kerch, and was the third of five children. The Orthodox Church commemorates Luke of Simferopol on June 11.
Life
Saint Luke, born Valentin Voyno-Yasenetsky on April 14, 1877, in Kerch, graduated from an art school in Kiev but chose medicine, wishing to be a doctor for the poor. During the Russo-Japanese War he headed a Red Cross surgical department, then worked in hospitals across Russia; in 1916 he defended his doctoral dissertation. In 1919 his wife died of tuberculosis, leaving him with four children.
In Tashkent, at the wish of Bishop Innocent, he was ordained deacon and priest in 1921, and continued his medical work. He was tonsured with the name Luke and secretly consecrated bishop, and a few days later arrested for his support of Patriarch Tikhon. He was imprisoned and exiled more than once, yet even in exile he was allowed to operate and saved many.
In February 1946 he received the Stalin Prize for his work in medicine, and in May 1946 became Archbishop of Crimea and Simferopol. His eyesight failed, and from 1958 he was completely blind, yet he continued to attend the services. He reposed on May 29/June 11, 1961. In 1995 he was numbered among the saints of the Crimea, and in 1996 his relics were transferred to the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Simferopol; the Greek faithful, grateful for healings, gave silver for his reliquary.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Luke of Simferopol as a patron when they bear the name Luke at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on June 11.
Prayer
O holy Luke of Simferopol, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.