Holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian

Life

Unmercenary healers and wonderworkers. These two saints were brothers by birth, natives of Rome, baptized as children and raised in the Christian spirit. They had great grace from God to heal both men and animals of every sickness and affliction, usually by the laying on of hands. For their labors they sought no reward whatsoever, asking only that the sick believe in Christ the Lord. Having inherited a great estate, they mercifully distributed it to the poor and the destitute. At that time Emperor Carinus reigned in Rome. The persecutors of Christianity brought these holy brothers before him, bound in chains. After a lengthy interrogation, the emperor commanded them to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the idols. But Cosmas and Damian not only refused to obey the emperor but even counseled him to turn away from dead idols and acknowledge the one true God. "Our God is not created, but He is the Creator of all things, while your gods are the inventions of men and the work of craftsmen's hands. And were there no craftsmen to fashion gods for you, you would have no one to worship." After a miracle wrought upon the emperor himself — for they miraculously healed him of a grievous illness — the emperor declared his own faith in Christ and released the holy brothers in peace. And they continued to glorify Christ God and to heal the sick, and were themselves glorified by the people on every side. A certain physician, their former teacher, envied their fame and, under the pretext of gathering medicinal herbs, led them into the mountains and stoned them to death. They suffered honorably for the faith of Christ in the year 284. Their memory has endured in the Church on earth, and their souls have passed into the Kingdom of the Lord, to live eternally in glory and joy.

From the Hymn of Praise

The young Potitus his father asked:"If thy faith is so truly right,Wouldst thou for its sake give even thy life?"Potitus answered: "The Savior hath promised