Hierarch
Hierarch Luka Zhidyata
хирот. 1036 — †15 октября 1059
Hierarch Luka Zhidyata — the first native of Rus (not a Greek) to hold the see of Novgorod, installed in 1036 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who consecrated the stone Sophia Cathedral (1050), took part in the 1051 Kiev council that elected the first Russian metropolitan Hilarion, and authored one of the oldest original works of Russian church literature, the "Instruction to the Brethren."
Hierarch Luka, nicknamed Zhidyata (a diminutive of the Slavic name Zhidislav/Zhiroslav — a widespread mistaken interpretation about Jewish origin is recognized as unfounded folk etymology), became the second Bishop of Novgorod and the first non-Greek, native son of Rus to hold that see, succeeding the Greek Joachim of Korsun. He was installed in 1035/1036 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and consecrated in Kiev, likely under Metropolitan Theopemptos.
He consecrated the new stone Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod on September 14, 1050 (some sources give 1051/1052). He took part in the 1051 Kiev council that elected St. Hilarion as the first ethnically Russian Metropolitan of Kiev.
From 1055-1058 he was falsely slandered by his own servant, Dudika; summoned to Kiev, he was held under Metropolitan Ephraim for about three years; he was ultimately vindicated and restored to his see in 1058/1059, and the slanderer Dudika was subjected to mutilation (his nose and hands were cut off).
He authored the "Instruction to the Brethren" — a short moral homily on the Trinity, the resurrection, church attendance, charity, and family ethics, considered one of the oldest original works of Rus church literature.
He reposed on October 15, 1059, at Kopys on the Dnieper while traveling; his body was brought back and buried in the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral. His relics were found incorrupt on March 22, 1558, and translated within the cathedral to the martyrs' portico by Archbishop Pimen — this act served as his effective local glorification.
His feast is kept on February 10/23 and October 4/17 (Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs), as well as on the movable day of the Synaxis of Novgorod Saints (3rd Sunday after Pentecost).
IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the impossible dating "4th-8th century" has been removed (correctly, 11th century); the date shared by five different saints named Luke ("April 22/May 5/October 18/April 11/April 24") has been replaced with the correct individual dates of the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs. His date of repose (October 15) and the uncovering of his relics (March 22) are historical events but do not coincide with the dates of liturgical commemoration.