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.
On the 1st of November, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries KOSMAS and
DAMIANOS of Asia.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone
O HOLY Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, visit our infirmities;
freely ye received, freely give to us.
Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone
HAVING received the grace of healing, ye extend health to those in
need, O glorious and wonderworking physicians. Hence, by your
visitation, cast down the audacity of our enemies, and by your
miracles, heal the world.
These Saints were from Asia (that is, Asia Minor). After the death of their father, their Christ-loving mother Theodote reared them in piety and in all manner of virtue, and had them instructed in every science, especially that of medicine. This became their diakonia (ministry), and they went about healing every illness and malady, bestowing healing freely on both men and beasts (animals) alike; because of this, they are called "Unmercenaries." And this, having completed the course of their life, they reposed in peace.
A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT IN THE LIFE OF THE HOLY UNMERCENARIES
Saints Kosmas and Damianos (Damian), were siblings and holy martyrs. Our Holy Church also commemorates two other sets of holy Unmercenaries, who shared the names of Kosmas and Damianos. We differentiate them by Province. The second pair, commemorated on the 1st of July, lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Carinus (283-285 A.D.), whom they converted. They also met a martyric end by stoning. The third pair, hailing from Arabia, commemorated on the 17th of October, lived during the time of Diocletian and Maximian (292 A.D.). Together with three other brothers, Leontios, Anthimos, and Evtropios (or Evprepios), they were cast into the sea, thrown into a blazing furnace, and nailed to a cross, before they were finally beheaded in Lycia.
We now need to speak of Saints Kosmas and Damianos of Asia. They were called unmercenaries, because they healed the sick without receiving any payment, whether it be money or gifts, for their labors fulfilling the Gospel command: "Freely ye received, freely give" [Matthew 10:8]. The brothers were from a well-to-do family. Their father had been a Greek pagan, but later, after he begat Kosmas and Damianos, he denied vile idolatry and embraced Christianity. He managed his life in a virtuous, prudent, and sober manner. Not much time passed, however, before he surrendered his soul to his Creator. Their mother, Theodote, had been a Christian from girlhood. Being left a widow, she diligently pursued the rearing and education of her sons, though more so toward piety and reverence. She also was a woman of uncommon excellence and was a model of womanly virtue to all those in the neighborhood. Her sons applied themselves conscientiously to the study of medicine, and they learned their art exceedingly well. After they had finished their studies, they immediately commenced their philanthropic work. Their primary treatment was not the curing of bodies as much as the healing of souls, by preaching in every place and at all times the name of the Christ.
Conducting their lives in this manner, the holy physicians were vouchsafed Apostolic gifts of grace; for they also received the gift of healing, given by Christ to His Holy Apostles to cure every kind of sickness. This means that, without herbs, plasters, and other therapeutic treatments, they cured every illness by the grace of the All-Holy Spirit. How can one describe the brothers’ humility, poverty, philanthropy, and other virtues which they possessed even as Christ’s Apostles? Their humility was such that they personally treated every patient’s wounds. Their poverty was profound that they possessed neither money, nor a second garment, nor even a bag for the road. The people did not address them by their first names, Kosmas and Damianos, bu "Unmercenaries," and thus the surname designated both of them. All were treated on an equal basis, whether the patient was rich or poor, or a foreigner or fellow countryman. Their home was the site of the new sheep pool of Bethesda (John 5:2), which surpassed the one of old. Their clinic was open daily, and many witnessed cures each day upon the stretching forth of the healing hands of the wise physicians Kosmas and Damianos. Their almsgiving and love for all was of such a degree that they even cured irrational beasts (animals).
The holy brothers shared a single character and soul in their faith, fasting, and works. They were like-minded i disdaining hte corruptible things of the world, rejecting the enjoyment of pleasures, and preserving their chastity. Dead to the things of this world, they cut off the sickness of avarice. They were inhabitants of heaven, though they dwelt in the flesh. The Saints, indeed, were accounted worthy of such grace from God as to heal every illness. They, however, DID NOT ATTRIBUTE THE RESTORATION OF THEIR PATIENTS’ HEALTH TO THEIR SKILL OR ART, BUT INSTEAD NAMED THE SOURCE OF THE REMEDY OPENLY: THE GRACE OF GOD. The art of medicine was not able to heal the blind, nor cause the lame to walk, nor faise the dead; but the name of the Christ, restoration was energized for all these. As a result, people from afar heard of the power of the Saints’ Wonderworkings, so that every day people were hastening to their clinic, bringing the infirm, afflicted, blind, lame, demonized, and those bedridden with every kind of malady. No patient left without receiving benefit, not only infirmities of the body, but also THE DARKNESS OF EVIL SPIRITS.
Once, the Saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman named Palladia, whom all the doctors had refused to treat because of her seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith and through the fervent prayer of the holy brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and Palladia got up from her bed perfectly healthy and gave praise to God. In gratitude for being healed and wishing to give them a small gift, Palladia went quietly to Damianos. She presented him with three eggs and said, "Take this small gift in the Name of the Holy Life-Creating Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Hearing the Name of the Holy Trinity, the Unmercenary one did not dare to refuse.
When Saint Kosmas learned what had happened, became very sad, for he thought that his brother had violated their strict vow. On his deathbed he gave instructions that his brother should not be buried beside him. Saint Damianos also died shortly afterward and everyone wondered where Saint Damiano’s grave should be. But through the will of God a miracle occurred. A camel, which the Saints had treated for its wildness, spoke with a human voice saying that they should have no doubts about whether to place Damianos beside Kosmas, because Damianos DID NOT ACCEPT THE EGGS FROM THE WOMAN AS PAYMENT, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE NAME OF GOD. The Venerable holy relics of the holy brothers were buried together at Thereman (Mesopotamia).
Let us not, O blessed Christians, disbelieve this miraculous account; for "the things impossible with men are possible with God" [Luke 18:27]. Countless miracles were worked after death of the holy Unmercenaries. Let us, also, have recourse to them and hasten to them with faith and love. They made themselves wholly the abode of the Holy Trinity. Even to this day they pour forth torrents of healing. Their very names drive away infirmities. Thus, we entreat the Holy Unmercenaries to drive away the dark passions and impart healing of soul and body to those who are grievously ailing. "For as most excellent physicians," chants Saint John of Damascus, "in a mystical manner, they practice their art of surgery, dispensing medicines for salvation, and treating every malady, by drawing upon the Divine Treasury, while by hymning to the Most Glorious God.
[Resources: 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
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 