Luke the Stylite

Venerable Luke the Stylite lived in Constantinople in the 10th century. He served as a soldier during the reign Constantine Porphyrogenitus the Byzantine Emperor. During battle against the Bulgarians Luke witnessed the death of several thousands of people, but he survived. He believed God had preserved his life and out of this experience he decided to take up the ascetic and eremitic life of a stylite.

For 45 years Luke lived atop a pillar near the city of Chalcedon in pursuit of sanctity in Christ. He is held to have died circa 970AD.

Luke the Stylite is commemorated on 11 December in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches.