Luka Zhidiata was an Eastern Orthodox priest and the second bishop of Novgorod, serving from approximately 1035 until his death in 1059. As the first native-born leader of his eparchy, he succeeded Efrem, who had previously administered the diocese without being formally consecrated. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of a new stone Cathedral of Holy Wisdom after the original building was destroyed by fire. His leadership was marked by both significant architectural achievements and political friction with the grand princes of Kiev.
Life and ministry
Luka's episcopate included the consecration of the stone Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in 1052. He famously contested the Kievan grand princes' authority to appoint metropolitans, arguing that such decisions belonged to the Patriarch of Constantinople. His career was interrupted when a slave named Dudik falsely accused him, leading to Luka being detained in Kiev for three years. Following the exposure of this slander, he began his journey back to Novgorod but died near the Kopyś River.
Veneration and legacy
Recognized as a saint within the Russian Orthodox Church, Luka is remembered for his ecclesiastical principles and his role in Novgorod's religious history. He was interred in the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, the structure he helped establish. The origin of his nickname, Zhidiata, remains a subject of historical debate, with theories suggesting it may refer to his ancestry or serve as a derivative of other names like Georgy.