The Pope Gives St. Luke To The Greeks
Saint Luke's remains returned from Italy to Greek birthplace
ATHENS, Sept 18 (AFP) -
The remains of Saint Luke, author of the third Gospel of the Christian New Testament, have been transferred from Italy to his birthplace in the Greek city of Thebes, Catholic Church officials said Monday.
The Catholic authorities agreed to the move after a request from the Greek Orthodox Church in Thebes, central Greece, said a Catholic official in Athens.
A mass was held on Sunday at the Orthodox cathedral in Thebes before the relics were lowered into a Roman-era funeral urn. A delegation from the Catholic Church attended the mass.
According to tradition, Saint Luke was buried in the early years of the first century AD.
Shortly afterwards, his remains were moved to Constantinople, before being taken to Padua, northern Italy, during the era of the Crusades, in the Middle Ages.
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