Theophylact, Archbishop of Ohrid in the Byzantine province of Bulgaria (second half. XI — early XII century) was a prominent Byzantine theologian. A native of Euboea, he served for a long time as a deacon at the Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and as a rhetorician. His duty was to explain the Holy Scriptures and compose instructive words in the name of the patriarch. Having become Archbishop of the Bulgarian Church, Blessed Theophylact showed himself to be a wise and firm pastor.

       Blessed Theophylact is not one of the saints whose memory is celebrated by the Orthodox Church, but he enjoyed from ancient times the glory of a holy father and teacher of the Church. Most of the works of Blessed Theophylact are interpretations of the Holy Scriptures, in which he follows the tradition of the Fathers of the Antiochian school, especially St. John Chrysostom.

       The work of Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria, devoted to the interpretation of the Four Gospels, is accessible to everyone's understanding and simple, and at the same time since ancient times it has been revered by the Russian Church as a truly patristic and Orthodox creation, faithfully conveying the meaning of the Gospel sayings.

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Blessed Theophylact (Archbishop of Bulgaria).

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke

Preface

We do not know exactly who the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke was by birth.

     He was born in Antioch, and therefore it is generally accepted that St. Luke was, by birth, a pagan who converted to Judaism.

     By the nature of his occupation, he was a doctor, and church tradition adds to this that he was also a painter.

     St. Luke belongs to the seventy disciples of Christ. Ancient tradition testifies that the resurrected Lord appeared to him together with Cleopas (Luke 24:13-33). From the Book of the Acts of the Apostles it is evident that, beginning with the second journey of the Holy Apostle Paul, Luke became his constant co-worker and almost inseparable companion, not leaving him even in chains.