ON NOVEMBER 1st – THE FEAST-DAY OF THE HOLY UNMERCENARIES AND WONDERWORKERS Ss COSMAS AND DAMIANOS (DAMIAN)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lod, 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 Feast-Day of the holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers
Ss COSMAS AND DAMIANOS (DAMIAN)

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.

Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, they were brothers in the flesh and in the spirit, born somewhere in Asia of a pagan father and a Christian mother. After their father’s death, their mother Theodota devoted all her time and energy to the bringing-up of her sons as true Christians. God helped her, and her sons grew as two choice fruits and as two holy lamps. They were skilled in medicine and ministered to the sick without payment, and so fulfilled Christ’s command: "Freely have ye received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8). They were so strict in their unpaid ministry to men that Cosmas became greatly enraged with this brother Damianos when he took three eggs from a woman, Palladia, and gave orders that, after his death, he should not be buried with his brother. In fact, holy Damianos had not taken those eggs as a reward for healing Palladia’s sickness, but because she had sworn by the Most Holy Trinity that he should have them. However, after their death in Fereman, they were buried together in obedience to a revelation from God. These two holy brothers were great Wonderworkers both during their lifetime and after their death. A farm laborer, on lying down to sleep at one time, was attacked by a snake, which entwined itself around his mouth and stomach. This poor man would have breathed his last in the greatest torment had he not at the last moment invoked the help of Saints Cosmas and Damianos. Thus the Lord glorified forever by miracle those who glorified Him here on earth by their faith, purity and mercy. [Resources: The Prologue from Ochrid]

_______
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George