My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
The Wonders (Miracles) and Holy Martyrdom of
Saint PANTELEIMON.
The Saint turned his attention to his pagan worshipping father Efstorgios by challenging his pagan faith. Little by little, Efstorgios’ devotion to the gods cooled. His son noticed this gradual change in his father and gave thanks to God. He kept entreating the Lord without ceasing for the speedy enlightenment of his father. Our God hearkened to the entreaty of the son and dispensed it in His own time and manner, which was the wisest and best. Efstorgios came to right-believing piety by means of the Wonder-working (Miracle-working) incident. On one occasion, when a certain blind man was led to the house of Efsrorgios, the kinfolk of the sufferer knocked at the door and asked, "Is Pantoleon the physician within?" The holy doctor, as he heard them for himself, also invited his physician father that they might both see the patient. Pantoleon asked the blind man what he sought. The patient answered directly, "I desire the light of my eyes, O most excellent doctor. For nothing is more sweeter to man fhan the power of vision. Pantoleon remarked, "The disease of thine eyes can be cured alone by the True God, using me as His instrument. As for the remuneration that thou hast promised, thou art to go and distribute it among the poor." His father said to his son Pantoleon his condition is beyond not only thy power but also the healing art. Pantoleon cautioned him gently, adding, "Be taking heed, father, to believe the Truth by the evidence of thine own eyes." Then he TRACED THE SIGN OF THE CROSS OVER THE SIGHTLESS EYES OF THE BLIND MAN. Pantoleon then called upon the Most-Sweet and Saving Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold the Wonder! (Miracle!) INSTANTLY, THE EYES OF THE BODY WERE OPENED AND RECEIVED LIGHT BUT ALSO THE EYES OF HIS SOUL, FOR THIS MAN WAS AN IDOLATER. The working of this great sign, which was wrought in the name of the Christ, had its effect. For in that very hour not only the patient but also the father of the Saint cried aloud in a great voice, "CHRIST IS THE MOST TRUE GOD AND ALL POWERFUL!"
The Saint gave glory to the Lord. He then escorted them to the sanctified Hermolaos for Baptism. Not much time passed before that blessed father departed from this life to be with Christ, after having turned to the Lord in repentance.
As many suffered from sickness, they all sought no other physician other than Pantoleon. Thus, the patients of Pantoleon received a twofold healing: SALVATION OF THE SOUL AND HEALTH OF THE BODY. As for the other pagan doctors in that city, they were moved to envy and malice beholding the wonder-workings wrought by that young physician. Their resentment and malice toward Pantoleon multiplied. They sought a reason to bring him into discredit before the emperor.
The Great Persecution of Christians in April of 304 A.D. culminated in a final edict commanding all Christians, clergy and laity alike, to offer sacrifice, on pain of death. The enemies of Pantoleon told the pagan emperor Maximian: "Your majesty, did you know that Pantoleon,whom you greatly admired and encouraged to study as the royal physician, has no fear now of your imperium’s great power or authority? These allegations profoundly sorrowed Maximian. He commanded his soldiers to find the former blind man who was cured by Pantoleon and bring him before his judgment seat. After a lengthy interrogation of the blind man he commanded to "Take this friend of Christ and strike off his head." After his beheading, Pantoleon purchased his holy relics and were laid to rest in the place where Pantoleon had entombed his father.
Maximian now summored the saintly physician before him. When he arrived in the palace, the emperor commenced the interrogation. Since Maximian was unable to persuade him with blandishments or threats, he began his punishment with the application of instruments of torture. First, they suspended Pantoleon upon a wooden pole, where they lacerated and flayed his flesh with iron nails. Followed by the application of fiery torches that badly burned his sides and his wounded members. While he was tortured, his mind was fixed upon that One, the Christ, Who was able to bestow aid. Jesus came to him in the form of Ermolaos, who spoke to him with genuine paternal affection, "Cease fearing, My child, for I am with thee…" Together with those words, the hands of the soldiers executing the torture became paralyzed and the torches were extinguished. The wounds of the Saint were healed.
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This account, my brethren in Christ, is the account of the Martyrdom and the wonderworkings of the most glorious and unmercenary healer Panteleimon. Portions of the holy relics of the Great-Martyr were distributed throughout the world. His Venerable head is now located at the Russian Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on the Holy Mountain. Saint Panteleimon, after his repose, worked multitude of cures for diverse illnesses and demonic possession. Not many from among the numberless miracles, regrettably, were recorded. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 