#saint luke the surgeon

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate the memory of our Holy Father Luke the Surgeon of Simferopol (+1961). Saint Luke was a leading surgeon and made significant advances in medicine which are still used today. Following his calling to become a priest, he then became bishop of Simferopol. During the communist rule, all icons were confiscated and burnt. Saint Luke refused to operate without the icon of the Virgin Mary in his theatre and so when the communist general's daughter fell ill and only Saint Luke could save her, the Saint refused to perform any surgery until the icon was placed back in his operating theatre. This was done and he save the life of the girl. He was also imprisoned and beaten, however he endured this all with patience and eventually fell asleep in the Lord in peace. Countless miracles have taken place at his gravesite. May he intercede for us all + #saint #luke #surgeon #saintluke #saintlukethesurgeon #lukethesurgeon #crimea #simferopol #ukraine #ukrainianorthodox #communist #communism #love #faith #icon #virginmary #orthodox #saintoftheday (at Simferopol, Ukraine) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ceo5RrdPTjz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#saint #luke #surgeon #saintluke #saintlukethesurgeon #lukethesurgeon #crimea #simferopol #ukraine #ukrainianorthodox #communist #communism #love #faith #icon #virginmary #orthodox #saintoftheday

[orthodoxicons]

#St. Luke #St. Luke the Surgeon #saints #Orthodox Christianity #Christianity #articles

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (October 18)

On October 18, Catholics and other Christians around the world will celebrate the feast of St. Luke, the physician and companion of St. Paul whose gospel preserved the most extensive biography of Jesus Christ.

St. Luke wrote a greater volume of the New Testament than any other single author, including the earliest history of the Church.

Ancient traditions also acknowledge Luke as the founder of Christian iconography, making him a patron of artists, as well as doctors and other medical caregivers.

Luke came from the large metropolitan city of Antioch, a part of modern-day Turkey.

In Luke's lifetime, his native city emerged as an important center of early Christianity.

During the future saint's early years, the city's port had already become a cultural center, renowned for arts and sciences.

Historians do not know whether Luke came to Christianity from Judaism or paganism, although there are strong suggestions that Luke was a gentile convert.

Educated as a physician in the Greek-speaking city, Luke was among the most cultured and cosmopolitan members of the early Church.

Scholars of archeology and ancient literature have ranked him among the top historians of his time period, besides noting the outstanding Greek prose style and technical accuracy of his accounts of Christ's life and the apostles' missionary journeys.

Other students of biblical history adduce from Luke's writings that he was the only evangelist to incorporate the personal testimony of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose role in Christ's life emerges most clearly in his gospel.

Tradition credits him with painting several icons of Christ's mother, and one of the sacred portraits ascribed to him — known by the title “Salvation of the Roman People” — survives to this day in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Some traditions hold that Luke became a direct disciple of Jesus before his ascension, while others hold that he became a believer only afterward.

After St. Paul's conversion, Luke accompanied him as his personal physician and, in effect, as a kind of biographer, since the journeys of Paul on which Luke accompanied him occupy a large portion of the Acts of the Apostles.

Luke probably wrote this text, the final narrative portion of the New Testament, in the city of Rome where the account ends.

Luke was also among the only companions of Paul who did not abandon him during his final imprisonment and death in Rome.

After the martyrdom of St. Paul in the year 67, St. Luke is said to have preached elsewhere throughout the Mediterranean and possibly died as a martyr. However, even tradition is unclear on this point.

Fittingly, the evangelist whose travels and erudition could have filled volumes wrote just enough to proclaim the gospel and apostolic preaching to the world.

Patronage: artists, bachelors, bookbinders, brewers, butchers, doctors, glass makers, glassworkers, gold workers, goldsmiths, lacemakers, lace workers, notaries, painters, physicians, sculptors, stained glass workers, surgeons.

#Saint of the Day #St. Luke #St. Luke the Evangelist #Salvation of the Roman People

[bylagunabay]

Power of Sacramentals

HOLY WATER

"𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."

St. Luke the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopol

World-famous pioneering surgeon, tortured confessor, archbishop and miracle-worker, St. Luke is one of the most intriguing saints who suffered under the Soviets. Outspoken regarding his faith, he was exiled and tortured multiple times. Yet the authorities could not deny his exceptional medical skills: he was appointed as a chief surgeon overseeing the treatment of injured soldiers during WWII and received the Stalin award for his pioneering surgical work.

Today he is considered the top surgeon of the 20th century in Russia. As Professor and Academician Kasirski writes “…His fame and skill were legendary. He could perform the most difficult operations without any problem”. He himself said: “A surgeon should have the eye of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the hand of a woman”, meaning a very delicate sense of touch. Once he took 20 sheets of paper and a scalpel. He asked his children to tell him a number and he would cut that number of pages at one stroke. They said 7, and with one movement he cut the seven sheets, leaving everyone astonished.

Apart from his scientific expertise, he was also distinguished for his deep faith in God. He would call for His help during operations. He had an icon of Christ and the Mother of God hanging on the wall, with an icon-lamp in front. He would light it, pray a while and then with the gauze and iodine make the sign of the Cross on the patient’s body, where he would start the operation. Only then would he make the first cut.

#catholic #orthodox #sacramentals #holy water

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT LUKE Feast Day: October 18

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Luke 12:34

One of the Four Evangelists along with Matthew, Mark and John, and the patron of artists, physicians, bachelors, surgeons, students and butchers, was a Greek physician from Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Hatay, Turkey), although some other scholars and theologians think Luke was a Hellenic Jew.

The New Testament mentions Luke briefly a few times, and the Epistle to the Colossians refers to him as a physician (from Greek for 'one who heals'); thus he is thought to have been both a physician and a disciple of Paul. Since the early years of the faith, Christians have regarded him as a saint. He is believed to have been a martyr, reportedly having been hanged from an olive tree, though some believe otherwise.

After his conversion, he became a missionary companion of Paul, whom he accompanied till the end. As the apostle wrote from his prison in his second letter to Timothy: 'Luke is the only one with me.' According to some accounts, Luke also contributed to the authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

After his martyrdom by the sword at the hands of Emperor Nero in the year 64 AD, he retired into Greece, where he composed the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Being a learned person, he wrote with order and clarity, and is the only the evangelist to give a complete account of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the visitation to her cousin Elizabeth - both of which can be found in the Holy Rosary as the first and second Joyful Mysteries respectively. It is said in tradition that Luke was a skillful artist, and that he was the first to paint the icon of the Blessed Mother.

Luke is symbolized by a winged bull (or ox) in Christian art, the symbol is a figure of sacrifice, service, and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zechariah in the temple; it represents Jesus's sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The winged bull also signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.

Luke died at the age of 84 in Thebes, Boeotia, Achaea, Roman Empire, and his major shrine can be found in Padua, Italy, in the Abbey of Santa Giustina, where his body relics can be found. His head, was in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, and his rib was in his tomb in Thebes.

©2022 photo by yours truly via POCO X3

#random stuff #cellphotography #cellphone photography #catholic #catholic saints #saint luke #luke the evangelist

[renatedagmarmilada]

ST LUKE PATRON SAINT OF ARTISTS-- DOCTORS AND SURGEONS.

[thatndginger]

📖OC Name Meaning📖

So a while back two months ago @sunset-a-story tagged me in this game and I am finally getting around to it~

rules: take your main characters (or whoever your favorites are) and vote whether they fit the meaning of their name or not

(since I am so late to the game I'm gonna leave this as an open tag in case anyone didn't get a chance before!)

Shapeshifter [randomized]

Kerr McKay - “thicket/marsh” or “spear” depending on etymology and Anglicization leanings - He is the spearhead of the group, the first into action and danger.

Jay (Jessamine) de Lange - “jasmine flower” - Does not fit her AT ALL. She doesn't fit with any of the traditional symbolism of the jasmine flower, tbh.

Warrick Salehrad - occupational name for someone who builds scaffolds - Nope.

Carlisle Morrish - derived from the city of Carlisle in Cumbria, England - 'Carlisle' is derived from 'caer' and 'Luguwaljon' [city of Lugus]. Caer means fortress or stronghold, and Lugus was associated with warriors, craftsmen, and being skilled in many things. It fits him.

Gabriel Beckham - “God is my strength”, a messenger archangel - I think it fits him. I can't tell you how yet, but it fits him.

Luka Kovac - Serbian version of Luke, St. Luke the Evangelist: patron saint of physicians, surgeons, and butchers - if we pay close attention to the 'patron saint of butchers' and epithets like 'the butcher of [place]' then you can gather something important about our boy here.

Caesar Montrose - from the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, title for roman and byzantine emperors - yes. He is not quite the conquerer and skilled politician as his namesake suggests, but what he lacks in charisma he makes up for in ruthlessness and business savvy.

Lucas Montrose - “to shine” - also yes. He shines like the sun; burning those who dare get to close, full of fire and passion and rage.

Adrien Montrose - derivative of a place name in Italy, possibly meaning “sea” or “water” | St. Adrian of Nicomedia: patron saint of arms dealers, guards, and soldiers - he's part of a powerful crime syndicate and cares for his 'soldiers'. I think a St. Adrian connection is fitting.

Calypso de la Fuente - “she that conceals” or “beautiful sight” - absolutely fits. She's mysterious and slippery and jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Enora Nolan - “honor” - if her name is being used Ironically, then yes. She has no honor.

Rónan Walsh - “little seal” - They're a selkie. Literally a little seal. It's not their true name, or one they chose, but it works for what it is.

Neve McKay - “bright”, mythical daughter of an Irish sea god - she has a very bright personality, and she lives in a sea-side town off the western coast of Ireland. Very fitting.

#tag games #WIP: Shapeshifter

[byzantine-nectarine]

The rose does not speak, but puts forth a strong fragrance. We too, should put forth fragrance, pour forth spiritual fragrance, the fragrance of Christ. The fragrance of our deeds should be heard from far around: good, pure, and righteous deeds, full of love. Only thus can the Kingdom of God appear within our hearts, appearing not through words, but with power. Amen.

+ Saint Luke of Crimea, the Blessed Surgeon

#eastern orthodox #orthodox christianity #eastern orthodoxy #saint luke the surgeon #saint luke of crimea #christianity #spiritual life #spiritual #spirituality

[justmypartner]

Still Breathing: Chapter 6

Summary: AU | When a case goes sideways, Hailey wakes up in the hospital with a revelation that leaves her evaluating her life. While she recovers at Med, she meets Jay, an aloof, yet intriguing patient that catches her by surprise. The two get to know one another as they take on the task of rediscovering what it’s like to truly live, and eventually learn their lives intersect in more ways than one.

Writer’s Note: Hi!! Oh man am I excited about this chapter. It’s sweet and flirty, but also pretty angsty, so you’re welcome and I’m sorry? I’ve hit a good spot with writing this story, so I will probably be posting more often. I still can’t promise weekly updates, but I will do my best. Thank you so much for the kind words on this story. It truly means a lot. I hope you enjoy! 

Read on AO3 or below

“Hailey?”

“Hello?”

It wasn’t until a coffee cup was being raised in front of her face that she pulled out of her absent stare. 

“Sorry,” she shook her head, blinking her eyes back into focus. “Thank you,” she said, forcing a smile as she reached out to grab the cup.

Everything had been a blur since that last dance with Jay the night before. When the song ended and she finally worked up the nerve to pull away from him, she desperately tried to swallow down her emotions with the rest of the bottle of wine. Not long after, when she couldn’t get her mind to shut off, she told him she was beat and asked him to drive her home. 

She then spent the rest of the night stuck in that moment in his arms, debating whether or not she was falling in love with him, or the moment. Then, every time she closed her eyes she saw his beautiful emerald eyes and his infectious smile and she knew the question was rhetorical.

She woke the next morning with a text from him asking to meet at what had become their coffee shop. She had the weekend off. She knew he knew that, so she had no real excuse to blow him off. So, she compartmentalized everything that happened the night before and agreed to meet him there.

“You okay? You seem off this morning,” he posited, taking a sip as he eyed her from the opposite end of the table.

There he was reading her like a book, the way only he seemed to be able to do.

“Yeah, no matter how much red wine I have, I always feel it the next morning,” she lied, taking a large swig of her coffee as he nodded, eyeing her carefully as she did so. 

“Sorry,” he offered, the slight pout on his face expressing his empathy.

“Thanks,” she replied quietly.

“So, I actually asked you to meet me because I wanted to run something by you.” 

“Okay…” she said, a resistance in her voice.

“How would you feel about sneaking into a college party with me tonight?”

“Why on Earth would we do that?” she breathed out a laugh with the question.

“I’ve never been. It’s on my list.”

“You’ve never been to a college party before?”

“Nope. I enlisted right out of high school, then my active duty filled the education requirement for the academy. Never even stepped foot on a college campus until I was a cop and needed to for a case,” he said with a shrug.

“You’re not missing much. I only went to maybe one party in my undergrad years, wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Yeah well, my brother spent all of his college years partying. Figured I ought to see what the hype was all about. I was waiting for fall to come around so I could blend in with of all the incoming students, but I only want to go if you agree to come with me.” 

“Fine, but only because it’s on your list… You’re going to have to do something about this look though,” she said, waving a hand in front of her as she gestured to his outfit.

“My look? What about you? You’re the one who dresses like a cop.”

She scoffed, taking one of the sugar packets on the table and flinging it in his direction. He flinched, a sneaky grin on his face as he laughed at his own joke.

“I can still wear my hat, right?” he asked once the laughter died down, a serious look overcoming his face.

“Yeah. I actually think I still have a U of C one you can borrow.”

“Cool.”

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without a hat.”

“You don’t want to. The chemo has thinned my hair out so much. I just haven’t had the courage to shave it all off yet.”

A sad look overcame her face, and she quickly adjusted it when she noticed his eyes dart away timidly.

“Actually, I have been wondering since we met, are you a brunette or a red head?” she questioned, trying to divert the mood.

“Oh, that’s a surprise.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at his now intentional pattern of aloofness. 

“One day, I’m going to be the one to surprise you.”

He gave her a disbelieving nod as he brought his cup to his mouth, concealing the smile she knew was breaking out across his lips.

— — — — 

Later that evening when she had just finished clasping the back of her last earring, there was a knock at the door. She made her way downstairs, hurrying to answer it. 

Jay stood on her doorstep in a maroon button up, dark jeans, and his usual ball cap. In the time she’d known him, it was always t-shirts and henleys, so to see him more dressed up had her heart racing in an entirely new way. 

As distracted as she was by his appearance, it didn’t stop her from noticing the way his eyes trailed up and down her body. She wore black jeans, black leather boots, and a silky blue tank that cut a little low. It certainly wasn’t her typical attire, but she knew it was basic enough of a look to blend in with every other college girl at whatever party they wound up at.

“Wow,” he breathed out, his mouth falling slightly agape as he seemed to force his eyes to train on hers. 

“Wow yourself,” she told him, stepping aside so that he could come in. 

Once the door was closed, they stood before one another in her foyer, both still silently gawking at one another for a minute longer.

“So, what do you think? Do I look like I should be at a college party?” he asked after clearing his throat, holding his arms out as he sought her approval. 

She pursed her lips to the side as she eyed him up and down, taking a little more time to do so since he had granted her his permission. 

“I don’t know I feel like it just needs-“

Her eyes fell to the top of his shirt where the top button was secured. She stepped forward, her hands moving to unbutton it and expose a little more of his chest. Her breath became shallow with the proximity. She pulled the collar out a little more once the button was popped. Doing so exposed a gold chain she’d never noticed before, one with a small medallion attached that rested in the contour of his chest. She noticed the way his jaw tightened as her fingers brushed his skin when she picked it up to inspect it further. She rubbed a thumb over it in her hand, an inquisitive look on her face as she did so.

“Do you always wear this? I’ve never noticed it before.” 

“It’s my brother’s. He gave it to me a few weeks ago. It’s St. Luke, the patron saint of doctors and surgeons. My mom gave it to him when he first told her he wanted to be a doctor. He thinks it’ll somehow help me, I’m not so convinced, but it reminds me of her so I wear it,” he explained, only his mouth moving as she still inspected the small medallion in her hand. She smiled, releasing it as she took a step back, folding her arms over her chest. 

“You know, the more I learn about your brother, the more I think I might like him more than you,” she told him smugly.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” he spat, squinting his eyes at her jokingly.

“Are you ready to go?” 

“Yeah, let me go get your hat.”

She momentarily disappeared upstairs, pulling the hat from her closet before descending the stairs once more.

“Here,” she told him. He grabbed it, holding it in his hand as he peered over at her with a look of patience. 

“Right, um let me get my things and we can head out,” she said, turning around to grant him the moment he was silently asking for. When she came back, his hat was swapped out and he wore a shy look on his face.

“Thanks,” he told her, and she knew it wasn’t just gratitude for the hat.

— — — —

Even a block down the street from the house they could hear the music and voices of a hundred or so college kids. It was enough to send shudders down Hailey’s spine, a reminder of why her first college party was also her last. 

“You sure you wanna do this? Can’t we just go get plastered at a bar and call it a night,” she offered, looking up at him in the dim light of the street. 

The look he sent her was one of both amusement and certainty, and she knew his decision on the night’s plans was unwavering. 

“Fine, but you’re my designated driver. The only way I’m getting through this is with booze running through my veins,” she sang.

“I didn’t plan on drinking anyway.”

The comment was enough to stop her in her tracks. She sent him a look, silently questioning the statement as a smirk grew on his face. 

“I mean I’m going to have a beer or something, but I’m not supposed to get hammered or anything. I’ve already got enough chemicals in my body trying to kill me.”

She nodded, and they continued their slow pace towards the house. Another reminder of what seemed like many lately that he was living on numbered days. She just wasn’t sure what that number was. Her face fell, and she focused her attention on each step she was taking, trying to pull herself out of the instant sullen mood she’d fallen into.

“Alcoholic,” he mumbled under his breath, causing her to kick at him playfully with the tease. It was just what she needed to smile again, but not quite enough to keep that reminder from plaguing her thoughts.

Once inside, they were met with the overwhelming smell of beer, musk, and weed. 

“How many of these kids do you think are underage?” he whisper yelled into her ear as they brushed through the crowd blocking the entrance. 

“All of them,” she returned, shaking her head at the thought of a time when she was one of the many carefree kids they were surrounded by. 

They found the drink table. Jay went for a can of cheap beer and Hailey poured herself a couple of shots of tequila. The smitten look and prideful smile he gave as he watched her down the first two were enough to make her do a third. It was going to be a long night with him looking the way he did, let alone with him looking at her like that. She knew she needed to be loosened up to get through it.

By her fourth shot she was in the middle of a crowd of people, her hips doing most of the work as she danced to whatever song was playing through the speakers. Jay opted out, claiming he was much more a slow dancer than a party dancer. 

She’d been alone for a while, a couple of young guys dancing alongside her before getting the cold shoulder and moving on. Even when the guys approached, it didn’t stop Jay’s eyes from keeping a determined stare. She pretended she didn’t notice, but he kept a watchful eye as she swayed to the rhythm of the absurdly loud music.

About an hour had passed. Hailey watched as Jay broke his stare, moving to play a few rounds of beer pong. She laughed when she watched him swap his beer for soda water when the other guys weren’t looking. Not that it mattered considering how good he was at the game. Hailey had kept her eye on him every so often as she danced with various groups of soured sorority girls. 

Eventually, the strands of hair by her face were stuck on with sweat, and she had lost sight of Jay for about 15 minutes. When she finally found him again, he was leaned against a wall, some young college girl standing only inches away from him, hung on his every word. 

She blamed it on the booze, but it sent a heat rising in her. She couldn’t blame the girl, he looked damn good, but she couldn’t help but envy how oblivious the girl was to what it meant to be close to him.  

She watched from the other side of the party, the low light seeming to only shine on the two of them in that large room of people. Her jaw was clenched and she thought about going over and pulling him away, being close to him in a way that had been stuck in her mind since the night before.  

She then watched as he said something that sent the girl running, and a smile came across her face. She made her way over to him, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. 

“You must really know how to sweet talk a girl,” she teased, practically having to scream over the noise. 

“You would know,” he said it in a way that caused her cheeks to become even warmer than they already were. 

“What’d you tell her?”

“She asked if I would go to her um… what’d she call it? Formal or something? She said it was some sorority thing. I told her I couldn’t because I have chemo that day. She thought I was kidding and then, well you saw the rest,” he chuckled, both of them looking over Hailey’s shoulder as the girl found some other guy to mingle with. 

“You look like you’ve had fun,” he told her, instinctively bringing a hand to brush the slightly damp waves out of her face. “Why don’t we go outside for some cool air?” he offered. She nodded, grabbing a bottle of water on her way out.

The backyard was unexpectedly empty. It was a charming little courtyard with a few tiki torches keeping it dimly lit, and a big porch swing hanging from the large tree in the corner. Hailey made her way over, plopping down on the swing less than gracefully as she opened the water, her weak attempt at sobering up a bit.

“What do you think of your first college party?” she asked him as she tried to settle herself onto the swing.

“Overrated,” he said simply.

“Told you,” she returned, swallowing down a large gulp of the water.

“I kinda like seeing you like this,” he told her, laughing at the way her short legs swung back and forth to move the swing. 

“I kinda like seeing you in general,” the words came out before she could fully process, and she squinted her eyes closed tightly, cringing at how forward her boozed up brain was making her.

He leaned against a tree across from her, crossing his arms as he snickered at her words. She laughed too, shaking her head as she took another pull from the water. He brought one of his hands up to readjust his hat as he watched her. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from him. The pop of his collar, the way his eyes were still so vibrant in the low light. He was a sight to be seen, but it seemed like every time she looked at him like that lately, it only reminded her just how short her time with him could be. 

Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through her veins, or maybe it was that thing that the shooting awoke in her, but she felt like she needed to tell him how she felt. No matter how much time they had left. Then her brain dwelled on that. Time. What did his prognosis look like? She’d never asked him. Never had the courage to ask him. But in that moment? Hammered Hailey was just about ready to ask, do, and say anything.  

“How much time do we have left?” she broke after a few moments of being lost in her jumbled, tequila ridden thoughts. 

“If you’re ready we can go if you want. We don’t have to sta-“

“No. I mean how much time do we have left,” she repeated, her eyes glossing over in a way that made the sight before her look like the view through a rain coated window. 

His face was twisted in confusion, then it softened as he realized what she meant, and dropped immediately into a pain inducing look of sorrow. He walked over, grabbing the swing to stop it from moving before falling down next to her. He let out a sigh, bringing an arm to rest on the bench behind her back as she felt him looking over at her. She sniffled, fidgeting with the bottle in her hands before she brought her eyes to meet his. 

“Why now? Why wait until now to want to know that?” he asked, the words coming out benignly. 

“Because I want to tell you something, and if I’m going to tell you, I need to know first.” 

“If I tell you, will the answer change your mind about whatever it is?”

“Maybe,” he kept his eyes on her, somehow knowing she wasn’t being truthful, somehow pulling the truth out of her with one look. “No,” she looked down into her lap, took a breath, and reset their gaze. “I just need to know.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes moving to stare straight ahead as she kept hers on him. 

“I don’t know,” he shook his head, taking a beat before continuing. “If this chemo does what it’s supposed to do, if it shrinks the tumor enough, I have surgery, go a few more rounds of chemo, and I could be in the clear. If it doesn’t? Things only get worse, and… I don’t know exactly how long, but the doctors give me a 30% chance of 5 more years.”

Silence fell upon them. Her gaze pulled away from him. They both looked straight ahead, not even daring to look at one another as Hailey let the news simmer. There was a pain in the back of her throat as she tried to hold back the sadness that plagued her body. It was a heaviness that started in her chest, extended up into her head, and burned the back of her eyes with a pain she hadn’t experienced before. She pinched at her temples with one hand as she kept the tears from streaming down her face. The only sound that surrounded them was the loud bass and indistinct voices coming from inside the house.

“Change your mind?” he finally asked. She could tell he’d turned his head back to face her, but she couldn’t find it in her to look back. 

She shook her head, her stare still avoiding him as she closed her eyes. The tears that had built up spilled out and rolled down her cheeks. She groaned, those tears falling down hopelessly despite her best intentions. 

“Are you going to tell me?” he asked, his voice was hopeful and quiet, and it only broke her heart even more.

She shook her head again, sniffling as she wiped the tears away.

“It’s a surprise,” she eventually told him, her voice raspy. She finally turned to face him, forcing a smile through her hurt as she jumped from the swing.

“Hailey-“ 

“I think I am ready to go home,” she told him, resting a hand on his knee briefly before making her way around the house and out to the street, not even glancing back to see if he was following her.

The ride home was quiet. His eyes kept tied to the road, and hers roamed out the passenger window. The same magnetic like force that seemed to always pull them together was somehow pushing them away in that moment. She finished the rest of her water. It wasn’t enough to sober her up completely, but she wasn’t quite as foggy as she’d been back at the party. 

When he pulled up outside of her place, he told her a short and quiet goodnight as she hopped out. She returned his farewell, flashing him a fake smile as she closed the door and headed up towards her place. 

She walked up to her stoop, trying to focus on her steps to keep from stumbling over. She was still somewhat drunk, but she was also just overwhelmed by the emotions weighing her down. Her brain kept replaying what he said. A 30% chance of 5 more years with him, or an unknown chance of a lifetime. The idea of each scared her for different reasons, but there was only one that seemed impossible to accept.

There was the sound of a door shutting behind her, and she spun around. Her face fell into a frown as she saw him jogging towards her. He got dizzy just from standing, the last thing he needed to be doing was running after her.

“Jay, woah,” she called out, reaching her arms out towards him when he was close enough to touch. 

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” he assured through winded breaths. 

“Did you forget something or-“

“Look, I don’t know what you were going to tell me earlier, but I have something I need to tell you,” he interrupted, his chest rising and falling quickly as he tried to restabilize his breath. 

She looked up at him, a blend of confusion and expectation on her face. His head was tilted toward the ground, and she could just make out his eyes from underneath the brim of his hat. They were glossed over and they avoided hers as he seemed to prepare whatever it was he had to say. 

“I don’t know how much time I have left. That’s my truth, and it’s scary and frustrating, and probably a little unfair, but every time I think about it, all I can think about is how I want to spend every minute of whatever it is with you. It sounds crazy because we haven’t even known each other that long, but… there’s something here. It’s something I’ve known for a few weeks now, but if I’m being honest it’s something I knew somewhere in my mind from the moment I stepped on that damn elevator,” he said it with a sense of urgency and passion that broke her heart in an entirely new way that night. 

That pain of holding back her tears returned as the words cut straight to her heart. Then he reached out and wrapped his hand around her forearm, allowing it to slowly slide down until it was grasping her hand in his. She shuddered at the touch. At the electricity that seemed to jolt through her body with his fingers against her skin. There was a reluctant and almost fearful look on his face as he did so, and she just squeezed his hand back, allowing him to know it was okay. He then grabbed their joined hands with his other, stepping forward as he brought them to rest on his chest.

“Hailey, I need to tell you this, and I hope it doesn’t scare you off I just...” he cut himself off, his eyes falling to the ground once more. He inhaled sharply, bringing his eyes back up to hers and peering into them with the same desperation and fire she carried in hers.

His mouth parted and the words left his mouth as if time had slowed down. It was one sentence, six simple words, but she could have sworn the world stopped spinning when he said them. 

“I’m falling in love with you.”

#upstead #jay x hailey #hailey x jay #jay halstead #hailey upton #chicago pd #upstead fic #justmypartner fics #collection of Em’s fics

[russianicons]

The image of Saint Luke the Evangelist is so popular and widespread that it is hard to impress someone with icons depicting one of the Four Evangelists. Today, you have a chance to look at one more remarkable Orthodox Russian icon painted in the 18th century. It is made with tempera on wood and now is held in the private collection in the Netherlands. Without a doubt, such an icon deserves attention as it pays tribute to one of the authors of canonical gospels and a patron saint of artists, physicians, surgeons, and students.

#saintluke #stluke #evangelist #saints #russianicon #russianicons #russianiconcollection #antiqueicon #iconography #christianity #orthodoxy #orthodoxicon #christianart #orthodoxart #religiousicons

[needahugfromesme]

raising cats with esme

Thank you for this🥺💖 I LOVE cats so much.

One winter night in 1936 Esme heard a noise outside. A cat was tapping her window with its front paw. As she opened a crack, the cat squeezed in. It was a silver tabby, scrawny and dirty, and one of its front legs was bleeding. The cat ran to hid under the table when Esme wanted to move a little closer to check its wound.

Esme picked up a pillow and set it in front of the fire, then she backed into the corner of the room, not wanting to frighten the cat with either her presence or her scent. Shivering because of the cold, the cat hesitantly went to the pillow and lay down on it. Only then did Esme notice its swollen belly. ‘She's going to be a mother.’ Esme finally understood why it was desperate to find a shelter despite her fear for people.

Esme sat on the floor and looked at the cat. It all reminded her of the night. After going into labor, Esme stumbled and knocked on the door of her neighbor to ask for help. Simply put a coat over her nightgown, the cold wind was blowing on her chest and thighs. The sharp pain in her abdomen and back made it almost impossible for her to stand. Like the cat, she gave up her vigilance and her dignity, all she was thinking was someone to save her and her baby.

She dashed into the kitchen at vampire speed, found a can of tuna and a bottle of milk, went back to the bedroom, and set two plates in front of the cat before retreating into the corner again. This time, without hesitation, the cat jumped off the pillow and licked the milk on the plate.

When Carlisle came home from the hospital in the morning, he found Esme sitting in front of the fire with the cat on her lap. 'I found her last night. She's injured. Do you mind having a look at her?" The cat purred uneasily and tried to break free from Esme once it smelled Carlisle. Esme stroked its head, gently hold its body when Carlisle quickly wrapped up his injured leg.

"I am going to call her Abby." "You want to keep the cat?" “She came to me.” “Alright, Abby. Good morning.” Carlisle tried to pet the cat, but it hissed.

A few days later, Abby gave birth to five kittens. Esme named the girls after the four sisters in Little Women. Carlisle called the boy kitten Luke. "Luke?" Esme raised her eyebrows "Luke the Evangelist. A patron saint of artists, physicians, and surgeons." Esme laughed, "You're such a nerd."

At first, Abby only let Esme touch her babies. Then she was gradually taken off guard by the care from Carlisle and Rosalie. Rosalie and Esme spent a lot of time making all kinds of toys for the kittens.

Emmett and Edward once broke Esme’s vase and blamed it on the kittens. They were grounded after Esme found out what happened. But she still put all her vases away.

After Jo scratched Edward's piano, he insisted that the piano be taken to his bedroom. For the lack of space, Edward threw his bed out.

When the weather was good, Esme would take the cats to the yard. She would sit under a tree and drew the kittens. Abby preferred to lie quietly on Esme's knee and stare curiously at the spots of light shining on Esme's skin. Sometimes she would raise her paw to touch it, the tickle made Esme laugh. While Carlisle was hiding behind the windows, admiring his wife and taking dozens of pictures of Esme playing with the cats.

Sometimes when Esme and Rosalie lay on the grass with their eyes closed enjoying the sun, the cats would come and join them. Rosalie used to hold Meg and Amy, with Jo clinging to Rosalie's legs. Beth and Abby slept next to each other under Esme's arms, Luke on Esme's chest.

"Hey. This is MY wife and that's my place." Carlisle nudged Luke, but Luke just looked at Carlisle and then closed his eyes again. "You cheeky little bastard," said Carlisle.

#headcanon #esme cullen #cats #twilight #my headcanon

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate the memory of the recent Luke the Surgeon of Simferopol (+1961). Saint Luke was a leading surgeon and made significant advances in medicine which are still used today. Following his calling in becoming a priest, he then became bishop of Simferopol. During the communist rule, all icons were confiscated and burnt. Saint Luke refused to operate without the icon of the Virgin Mary in his theatre and so when the communist general's daughter fell ill and only Saint Luke could save her, the Saint refused to perform any surgery until the icon was placed back in his operating theatre. This was done and he save the life of the girl. He was also imprisoned and beaten, however he endured this all with patience and eventually fell asleep in the Lord in peace. Countless miracles have taken place at his gravesite. May he intercede for us all + #saint #luke #surgeon #saintluke #saintlukethesurgeon #lukethesurgeon #crimea #simferopol #ukraine #ukrainianorthodox #communist #communism #love #faith #icon #virginmary #orthodox (at Simferopol, Ukraine) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBRwzcNJkHy/?igshid=1cb65bad3buqf

#saint #luke #surgeon #saintluke #saintlukethesurgeon #lukethesurgeon #crimea #simferopol #ukraine #ukrainianorthodox #communist #communism #love #faith #icon #virginmary #orthodox

[jamespotterthefirst]

Baby names that hold significance: Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua (first Mexican female doctor), Antonia Novello (first Hispanic surgeon General), Saint Luke (patron Saint of doctors) so Lucia? 💜

ANON I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ MY LILAC SO WOULD JFOEKEKD

#ANON you genius

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (October 18)

On October 18, Catholics and other Christians around the world will celebrate the feast of St. Luke, the physician and companion of St. Paul, whose gospel preserved the most extensive biography of Jesus Christ.

St. Luke wrote a greater volume of the New Testament than any other single author, including the earliest history of the Church.

Ancient traditions also acknowledge Luke as the founder of Christian iconography, making him a patron of artists, as well as doctors and other medical caregivers.

Luke came from the large metropolitan city of Antioch, a part of modern-day Turkey.

In Luke's lifetime, his native city emerged as an important center of early Christianity. During the future saint's early years, the city's port had already become a cultural center, renowned for arts and sciences.

Historians do not know whether Luke came to Christianity from Judaism or paganism, although there are strong suggestions that Luke was a gentile convert.

Educated as a physician in the Greek-speaking city, Luke was among the most cultured and cosmopolitan members of the early Church.

Scholars of archaeology and ancient literature have ranked him among the top historians of his time period, noting the outstanding Greek prose style and technical accuracy of his accounts of Christ's life and the apostles' missionary journeys.

Other students of biblical history have adduced from Luke's writings that he was the only evangelist to incorporate the personal testimony of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose role in Christ's life emerges most clearly in his gospel.

Tradition credits him with painting several icons of Christ's mother. One of the sacred portraits ascribed to him – known by the title “Salvation of the Roman People” - survives to this day in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Some traditions hold that Luke became a direct disciple of Jesus before his ascension, while others hold that he became a believer only afterward.

After St. Paul's conversion, Luke accompanied him as his personal physician and, in effect, as a kind of biographer, since the journeys of Paul on which Luke accompanied him occupy a large portion of the Acts of the Apostles.

Luke probably wrote this text, the final narrative portion of the New Testament, in the city of Rome where the account ended.

Luke was also among the only companions of Paul who did not abandon him during his final imprisonment and death in Rome.

After the martyrdom of St. Paul in the year 67, St. Luke is said to have preached elsewhere throughout the Mediterranean and possibly died as a martyr.

However, even tradition is unclear on this point. Fittingly, the evangelist whose travels and erudition could have filled volumes, wrote just enough to proclaim the gospel and apostolic preaching to the world.

Patronage: artists, bachelors, bookbinders, brewers, butchers, doctors, glass makers, glassworkers, gold workers, goldsmiths, lacemakers, lace workers, notaries, painters, physicians, sculptors, stained glass workers, surgeons.

#Saint of the Day #St. Luke #“Salvation of the Roman People” #Basilica of St. Mary Major #Christian iconography

[rtrixie]

Sometimes we might be inclined to think that the saints and their lives are in the distant past and that such things do not occur anymore. The life of Saint Luke the surgeon is a reminder that that’s not the case. There are and there will be saints of the modern world, who live and labour in Christ as those of ages past.

#orthodoxy

[oftatteredwings]

did JONAH BELLEVUE chase one of seven sins seven miles down the coast? originally from LONDON, UK, the THIRTY-EIGHT YEAR OLD CIS-MALE is a SURGEON AT BAPTIST FISHERMAN’S HOSPITAL and has lived in the key for THREE & A HALF YEARS. HE is suppose to call THE MEADOWS home, but there is always temptation lurking between the streets and the ocean that keeps HIM from heading back. sinners and saints take many forms, but they look like JAKE GYLLENHAAL and on their way to make decisions, good and bad, they always seem to sway to the beat of LONDON CALLING BY THE CLASH.

Name: Jonah Bellevue Nicknames: Jo, Jones Age: Thirty-eight Date of Birth: 3rd May 1983 Birthplace: London, UK Occupation: Surgeon at the Baptist Fisherman’s Hospital Romantic/sexual orientation: Biromantic/bisexual Positive traits: determined, clever, compassionate Negative traits: obsessive, flighty, volatile

tw: adoption, drugs, car crash, child death, depression, alcoholism

Jonah was born in Wimbledon, London as Jonah Daley. It wasn’t until he was four that he became Jonah Bellevue. He was taken from his mother a little after his third birthday when she was declared as an unfit parent, problems with drugs she’d faced since her teen years spiralling out of control and landing her in prison.

His life with the Bellevues was all he could have asked for, the wealthy couple showering everything upon him and the three other children they chose to adopt over the years.

The sudden move to New York city when he was sixteen came as a surprise, one he refused to accept up until the day they left British soil. Jonah was known for temper tantrums as a child and that seemed to follow him into his teens, although it was more of a violent mood swing then.

At seventeen he received early acceptance to Harvard to study medicine and wasted absolutely no time in accepting the offer.

The move took him from his family, but he was quickly distracted, throwing himself into a new life. Hiking became a prominent part of it and that’s eventually where he would meet the would be mother of his child.

Luke was born two years after they met. A bundle of pure joy and happiness. Jonah was completely besotted and also completely in love with his work. He decided then to put everything into it, choosing to continue his education and specialise in surgery, wanting to go as far as he possibly could.

They created a life for themselves, moving to Chestnut Hill where he worked on renovating their house in his spare time (what little of it he had).

When Luke turned seven, however, there was an accident. Mother and son involved in a car cash that would become fatal. Their son passed away in the back of the ambulance.

Within twelve hours Jonah had been back at the hospital demanding a change of department. He threw himself into work, ignored everyone's warnings and switched himself off from everything. Working as a paramedic was supposed to make him feel better, stop him from blaming himself for what had happened.

It didn’t turn out that way. In fact, four years later it led to a complete break down. For the first time since the accident he began to cry... and he couldn’t stop. The following morning he left his girlfriend (actually told her they had nothing in common anymore other than a grave), left his job, and then jumped in the car.

Two days later he arrived in Key West and that’s where he’s been ever since. He picked up a job at the local hospital, at first not wanting to take on too much responsibility, but gradually moving his way back up. It’s only in the last couple of months he’s made a serious move back to surgery.

His mental health is still a struggle, especially so when the anniversary of Luke’s death rolls around each year. He’s definitely ashamed to say he attempts to dull the pain with alcohol, a problem he’s trying to work through.

Wanted Connections

- ex girlfriend/mother of luke; there’s a lot to work through for them but i’d love to see her around. - adoptive siblings; his four other siblings. [diamond bellevue] - half-sibling; family from either his mother or father’s side in london he doesn’t know about. - close friends from boston; anyone who knows of his past. - exes; either from boston before luke’s mom came on the scene or attempts at moving on in the key. - fwb; he’d definitely find this easier to navigate right now. - fellow hikers; anyone he’s met or joins him on the trails on a regular basis. - other aa attendees. - work connections.

#sevenmiles.intro #✧ jonah ( about )