# Orthodox Church feast days on October 18

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/orthodox-church-feast-days-on-october-18
> Updated: 2026-10-17T21:26:14.000Z. Sources: 49. Developments: 2.

The Orthodox Church and various Christian traditions observe the feast days of Saint Luke the Evangelist and other saints on October 18.

Saint Luke, a physician of Greek descent and companion of Saint Paul, is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He is traditionally honored as the patron of doctors, surgeons, artists, and iconographers, with religious tradition crediting him as the first iconographer who painted early images of the Virgin Mary and Christ. His theological writings are noted for emphasizing divine mercy, compassion, and the historical narrative of the early Church. Liturgical services for his feast day are held across the Orthodox and Catholic worlds.

Other commemorations include Saint Marinos the Elder, a martyr from Tarsus of Cilicia from the era of Diocletian, and the Great Martyr Zlata Maglenska. Zlata Maglenska was a Bulgarian martyr who died in 1795 after refusing to renounce her faith during Ottoman rule. Born into a poor family in the village of Slatino, she is honored for her endurance despite abduction and severe torture.

In Bulgarian folk tradition, the day is associated with cleaning and polishing gold jewelry to invite good fortune, a custom linked to the name Zlata.

## Claims

- Saint Luke is the author of the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Saint Luke was a physician. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Saint Luke was born in Antioch, Syria. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Saint Luke accompanied Saint Paul on missionary journeys. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The Orthodox Church honors Saint Luke the Evangelist and Saint Marinos the Elder on October 18. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Saint Luke was of Greek nationality and originally from Antioch, Syria. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Saint Luke was a physician by profession and a skilled painter. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- He authored the third Gospel of the New Testament and the Acts of the Apostles. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- His relics were moved to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople in 357 AD. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Saint Luke is credited with the first icons of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Saint Luke is the patron saint of artists. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Luke and Saint Zlata Maglenska on October 18. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-17: Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Luke and Saint Zlata Maglenska

On October 18, the Orthodox Church honors Saint Luke the Evangelist and the Bulgarian martyr Saint Zlata Maglenska.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/orthodox-church-commemorates-saint-luke-and-saint-zlata-maglenska

### 2026-10-16: Saint Luke the Evangelist commemorated on October 18

The Christian Church celebrates the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist on October 18, honoring the physician and author of the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles.

45 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saint-luke-the-evangelist-feast-day-and-historical-legacy

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Cite as: Orthodox Church feast days on October 18. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/orthodox-church-feast-days-on-october-18