Saints Cosmas and Damian the Holy Unmercenaries…

The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian and their mother St Theodota were natives of Asia Minor‭ (‬some sources say Mesopotamia‭). ‬Their pagan father died while they were still quite small children‭. ‬Their mother raised them in Christian piety‭. ‬Through her own example‭, ‬and by reading holy books to them‭, ‬St Theodota preserved her children in purity of life according to the command of the Lord‭, ‬and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men‭.‬

Trained and skilled as physicians‭, ‬they received from the Holy Spirit the gift of healing people’s illnesses of body and soul by the power of prayer‭. ‬They even treated animals‭. ‬With fervent love for both God and neighbor‭, ‬they never took payment for their services‭. ‬They strictly observed the command of our Lord Jesus Christ‭, ‬“Freely have you received‭, ‬freely give‭.‬”‭ (‬Mt‭. ‬10:8‭). ‬The fame of Sts Cosmas and Damian spread throughout all the surrounding region‭, ‬and people called them unmercenary‭ ‬physicians‭.‬

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 giving praise to God‭. ‬In gratitude for being healed and wishing to‭ ‬give them a small gift‭, ‬Palladia went quietly to Damian‭. ‬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 St Cosmas learned what had happened‭, ‬became very sad‭, ‬for he thought that his brother had broken their strict vow‭. ‬On his deathbed he gave instructions that his brother should not be buried beside him‭. ‬St Damian also died shortly afterward‭, ‬and everyone wondered where St Damian’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 Damian beside Cosmas‭, ‬because Damian did not accept the eggs from the woman as payment‭, ‬but out of respect for the Name of God‭. ‬The venerable relics of the holy brothers were‭ ‬buried together at Thereman‭ (‬Mesopotamia‭).‬

Many miracles were worked after the death of the holy unmercenaries‭. ‬There lived at Thereman‭, ‬near the church of Cosmas and Damian‭, ‬a certain man by the name of Malchus‭. ‬One day he went on a journey‭, ‬leaving his wife all alone for what would be a long time‭. ‬He prayerfully entrusted her to the heavenly protection of the holy brothers‭. ‬But the Enemy of the race of mankind took on the‭ ‬appearance of one of Malchus’‭ ‬friends‭, ‬and planned to kill the woman‭. ‬A certain time went by‭, ‬and this man went to her at home and said that Malchus had sent‭ ‬him to bring her to him‭. ‬The woman believed him and went along‭. ‬He led her to a solitary place intending to kill her‭. ‬The woman‭, ‬seeing that disaster threatened her‭, ‬called upon God with deep faith‭.‬

Two fiercesome men then appeared‭, ‬and the devil let go of the woman and fled‭, ‬falling off a cliff‭. ‬The two men led the woman home‭. ‬At her own home‭, ‬bowing to them deeply she asked‭, ‬“‭ ‬My rescuers‭, ‬to whom I shall be grateful to the end of my days‭, ‬what are your names‭?‬”

They replied‭, ‬“We are the servants of Christ‭, ‬Cosmas and Damian‭,‬”‭ ‬and became invisible‭. ‬The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone about what had happened to her‭. ‬Glorifying God‭, ‬she went up to the icon of the holy brothers and tearfully offered prayers of thanksgiving for her deliverance‭. ‬And from that time the holy brothers were venerated as protectors of the holiness and inviolability of Christian marriage‭, ‬and as givers of harmony to conjugal life‭. ‬From ancient times‭, ‬their veneration spread also to Russia‭.‬

The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor should not be confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome‭ (‬July 1‭), ‬or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia‭ (‬October 17‭).‬