The Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian of Rome

Their commemoration is on July 1st.

The Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian of Rome lived during the reigns of the emperors Carinus and Numerian, around the year 284 A.D., and were natives of Rome. Saints Cosmas and Damian were physicians for both people and animals. For their medical services, they did not ask for money or any material things from those they healed; instead, they asked them to believe in Christ.

Some people became envious of them and reported them to Emperor Carinus, accusing them of performing miracles and healings through sorcery. Upon hearing this, Saints Cosmas and Damian willingly surrendered themselves to the emperor. Not only did they not renounce their faith, but they also succeeded in convincing Emperor Carinus to abandon idolatry and become a Christian by miraculously healing him. Specifically, the emperor had threatened them with torture to force them to renounce the Christian faith, but his face turned backward. The Holy Unmercenary Physicians healed him of that affliction, and through this miracle, everyone present believed – both the emperor and his courtiers. Thus, he allowed Saints Cosmas and Damian to return with honor to their relatives.

Unfortunately, the physician who had taught them the art of healing was filled with envy at their glory, and cunningly lured them to a mountain under the pretense of gathering medicinal herbs and killed them with stones.

Troparion (Tone 8): O holy unmercenaries and wonderworkers, visit our infirmities.Freely you have received, freely give to us.

Kontakion (Tone 2): You who have received the grace of healing, bestow health on those in need,O glorious wonderworking physicians;Through your visitation, cast down the pride of the enemy,Healing the world with miracles.

Prayer to the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian

Glorious wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian!Loving Christ God from your youth, you not only learned the craft of medicine,but above all, you received from God an unfailing grace to heal all illnesses.Therefore, hear us quickly as we fall before your honored icon. Guide with your prayers the children who seek your help in their studies, so that, by emulating your way of life, they may gain not only earthly knowledge, but especially grow in piety and in the true faith. To those lying in illness and who have lost hope in human help,but who run to you with fervent faith and diligent prayer,grant healing through your merciful and wonderworking visitation. Likewise, strengthen with the grace given to you by God those who,because of severe illness, have fallen into despair, spiritual weakness, and complaint. Encourage them in patience and guide them to understandthe holy and perfect will of God concerning us,so that they may become partakers of God’s saving grace.

Protect all who come to you with devotion from harsh diseases,defend them from sudden death, and by your powerful intercession before God,keep them firm in the true faith and assist them in spiritual growth,so that together with you, they may be found worthyin the age to come to praise and glorify the most holy and majestic Nameof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.