Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon

Life

Panteleimon was from Nicomedia, born of a Christian mother and a pagan father. His mother was called Eubula and his father Eustorgius. As a young man he studied the medical sciences. The priest Hermolaus summoned him to himself, taught him the faith of Christ, and baptized him. Panteleimon miraculously healed a certain blind man whom other physicians had treated in vain; he healed him by the name of Christ, and baptized him. Out of envy, the physicians denounced Panteleimon as a Christian, and Panteleimon appeared before Emperor Maximian for trial. "And he stood before the earthly emperor in body, but in mind he stood before the Heavenly King." Before the emperor he freely declared himself a Christian, and before the emperor's very eyes healed a certain paralyzed man of a long-lasting illness. This miracle drew many pagans to the faith of Christ. The emperor subjected him to torments, but the Lord appeared to him several times and delivered him whole and unharmed. Then also St. Hermolaus, together with Hermippus and Hermocrates, suffered. Condemned to death, St. Panteleimon knelt in prayer. At that moment the executioner struck him with the sword upon the neck, and the sword bent as though it were of wax. And the executioner could not slay him until the saint finished his prayer and himself said that they should behead him. His relics became a source of healing. Panteleimon was beheaded beneath an olive tree, which afterward became laden with fruit. Panteleimon means "all-merciful." The all-merciful God received his righteous soul and glorified him among His great saints. This wondrous martyr suffered honorably for Christ in his youth on July 27 in the year 304. St. Panteleimon is invoked in prayers at the blessing of waters and at the anointing of the sick, together with St. Hermolaus and the other Unmercenaries and wonderworkers. The most glorious church dedicated to this saint is found on the Holy Mountain.

From the Hymn of Praise

The Five Companions, pleasing unto God,Worthy bearers of the Gospel's honey,Throughout the wide white world they carried the faith,Until they came to rest beside the blue lake.