Rethymno Celebrates Physician-Archbishop Saint Luke's Feast

Saturday, 13 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos celebrated the feast of Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol, venerated in the Orthodox Church as both a bishop and a physician. Saint Luke, who lived from 1877 to 1961, was a distinguished surgeon and medical professor before becoming a clergyman, and is widely respected across Greece for his healing ministry. The celebration took place at churches under the Rethymno diocese on his feast day, June 11. Visitors in the Rethymno area may encounter liturgical services, candlelit processions, and church gatherings marking the occasion. These Orthodox feast day celebrations are open to respectful visitors, though modest dress covering shoulders and knees is expected. Rethymno's old town, with its Venetian harbor and historic churches, provides a rich backdrop for experiencing Cretan religious tradition firsthand.