Unmercenaries and miracle workers Cosmas and Damian of Asia
It is known that Cosma and Damian are brothers. There is no exact time of their birth or death. But, based on indirect evidence, it turns out that this is the 5th century. Historians came to this conclusion based on the fact that in those days temples were built in their honor. It is also known that the Copts recognize unmercenaries as saints. One has to think - this is the time of the Council of Chalcedon in 431. The Copts did not recognize saints who lived after this time.
The boys were raised by a Christian mother, Theodotia, and a pagan father. He was of Greek origin. Fortunately for them, the father left his sons early. An Orthodox mother could devote all her free time to their proper upbringing.
Theodotia decided to remain a widow for the rest of her life and devote time to the Lord and her sons. She led a solitary, ascetic life. For her zeal for the Christian religion, she was canonized. The Holy Church called the worthy widow a saint.
With such a parent, the sons grew up as virtuous Christians. She enrolled the children, who had already grown up, in literacy training. The God-fearing man taught them the Divine Scripture. Along the way, the youths studied medicine and studied the healing properties of plants. For their zeal, the Lord gave the young men the gift of miraculous healings. Whatever disease Cosma and Damian attempted to treat, there was always a positive result.
The rumor about the healers spread far beyond their place of residence. The suffering did not leave their yard. Moreover, the saints themselves moved from village to village, looking for the sick. The righteous had no goal of getting rich. They did not take payment for their help in money, goods or services. They believed that the Lord gave them a gift for free, they should also provide help for free. We lived according to the commandments of the Savior.
In response to their help, the healers asked only for firm faith in Christ. They tried to convert the pagans to the holy faith. For such actions they were imprisoned by Emperor Karin. The Lord punished the latter with illness. The healers helped him, for which they were released.
For such selfless service in the name of the Lord, they were called miracle workers and unmercenary people. The two brothers always lived together, never parting for a day. We did everything together too. Since childhood, they made a vow to help people for free. Almost until the end of their lives they remained faithful to this promise.
Shortly before his death, one of them happened to break his vow, unwillingly. That trouble happened from one sick woman. The brothers helped her recover. The woman, happily freed from illness, wanted to thank her saviors, but knew that they would not take anything. Then she, conjuring in God's name, persuaded Damian to accept three eggs as a gift (in the name of the Holy Trinity).
The second brother, having learned about this, was mortally upset and bequeathed not to bury him with the one who broke the promise. At night Cosmas had a dream, the Savior came to him and said: “Why are you grieving for the sake of the three eggs taken? They were not taken for the sake of a bribe, but for the sake of the wife’s oath in My name...” Peace was restored, but Cosmas did not tell anyone about the cancellation of his will.
Cosmas died first, and a short time later Damian passed away. People asked in confusion what to do with the funeral. No one wanted to oppose the will. Then a camel, saved by the saints, approached them and said in a human voice that he had come to tell about the secret of Cosmas. There is no reason to separate brothers after death. Delighted people placed the relics of Cosmas and Damian in a common shrine and buried them together.
An Orthodox church was built at the burial site of the unmercenaries. The sick went to the temple in an endless stream and received help by falling before the images of the saints.
Healers of souls and bodies
Healing human souls and bodies is God’s work. That is why so many miracles of the Lord are known from the Gospels. That is why there are so many holy doctors who fulfilled what He said:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Church tradition knows three pairs of brothers named Cosmas and Damian. All of them are doctors who added a prayer to Christ to earthly medicines, and therefore, by the power of God, healed many suffering people. In addition, these saints of God were almost contemporaries: their life, feat, and death date back to the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century.
Asian brothers
Asian healing brothers lived in Asia Minor. They are known for many healings, and also for the fact that they strictly enforced lack of silver. They say that one woman, literally raised by them from her deathbed, asked them for a long time to accept payment, but, despairing of begging unpaid doctors, she brought St. Damian has three eggs “in the Name of the Holy Trinity.” For the sake of this Name, the saint took a gift, for which he was reprimanded by his brother, Cosmas. He didn’t even order Damian to be buried next to him.
But after the peaceful death of both saints, they were still buried together for the sake of a miracle. The camel they had once healed of rabies, by the power of God, said that Damian took the alms for the sake of God, and not for profit.
Roman healers
Roman healers-ascetics under Emperor Karin (late 3rd century) brought the inhabitants of the “Eternal City” to Christ with many healings and preaching. The saints were captured and put on trial. It was on it that the brothers said the words that make up their life credo:
“We have not harmed anyone, we do not practice magic and sorcery, which is what you accuse us of. We heal illnesses with the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and do not take any remuneration for helping the sick.”
Amazed by the miracles of the saints, Emperor Karin released them. But the saints still died as martyrs: their own teacher killed them when he was instructing his brothers in medicine. The reason for the action was envy.
Arabian martyrs
Finally, the Arabian Cosmas and Damian suffered not alone, but with 3 other martyrs. Their names are Leontius, Eutropius, Anthimus. They tried to drown them all and set them on fire, but each time the Lord saved the lives of His saints. Then the Romans hanged Christians on a tree and began throwing stones and arrows. But they only wounded the tormentors themselves. The lives of the saints say that, embittered by the invulnerability of the saints, the soldiers cut off their heads.
This is interesting: The holiday of Kuzma and Demyan in Rus'
What do the saints pray for?
Saints Cosmas and Damian are prayed for for any illness. Prayers are read at:
- upcoming operations;
- chronic diseases;
- cold;
- various tumors;
- ulcers.
For the saints, people who were not enlightened by the light of the Gospel were sick. Their illness was mental. People who were mentally ill also included:
- patients with alcoholism;
- addicted to drugs.
Holy doctors could often be found surrounded by animals and all kinds of living creatures. Cosmas and Damian treated them too.
Orthodox prayers to Cosmas and Damian of Rome
Cosma and Damian should begin reading the prayer with pure thoughts and intentions. Asking for healing is very powerful. Help is provided to all believers who ask.
Troparion, tone 8
Saints without money and wonderworkers Cosmos and Damian,/ visit our infirmities // accept, give to us.
Translation: Holy unmercenaries and wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian, visit our infirmities; You have received grace freely, give it to us freely.
Kontakion, tone 2
Grace accepts healings, / you extend health to those in need, doctors, / wonderworkers of glory, / but by your visit to the warriors, you overthrow insolence, / / healing miracles for the world.
Translation: Having received the grace of healing, you extend health to those in trouble, doctors, glorious miracle workers; but by your visit you will also overthrow the enemies of insolence, healing the world with miracles.
First prayer
To you, saints without mercenary and miracle workers Cosmos and Damian, as to a quick helper and a warm prayer for our salvation, we, unworthy, bend the knee, and, falling, cry out earnestly m: do not despise the prayers of us, sinners, weak ones, who have fallen into much iniquity and all the days and hours of those who sin. Pray to the Lord to grant us, His unworthy servants, His great and rich mercy; Deliver us from all sorrow and illness, for you have naturally received from the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ the endless grace of healings, for the sake of firm faith, free healing and martyrdom We are yours. Hear us praying, and through your favorable intercession ask Christ God for the Orthodox people to win and overcome their enemies. Once again, we diligently pray: ask us from the Lord for all that is beneficial, even in our temporary belly, especially serving for eternal salvation, so that through your prayers we may be honored to improve our end. Christian, painless, shameless, peaceful, and may we get rid of the wiles of the devil and eternal torment , we will be the heirs of the endless and blessed Kingdom of Heaven. To her, pleasers of God, do not stop praying for us, who flow to you with faith. And if, due to the multitude of our sins, we are not worthy of your mercy, both of you, faithful imitators of God’s love for mankind, create, so that we may bear fruits worthy of repentance and unto eternal rest. Let us praise and bless the wondrous Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ in His saints, and His Most Pure Mother, and your warm intercession, always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second prayer
O miracle workers of glory, physician of mercilessness, Cosmo and Damian! From your youth you have loved Christ God and kept His commandments with all your heart, even if you have given yourself medical teachings, but virtuous ones for the sake of living and purity of soul, by the power of Christ God, not only the art of healing, but moreover the inexhaustible grace of healing all kinds of incurable ailments, you have received from God by nature. Because of your love and mercy for those who struggle with illnesses, you give healing of illnesses not only to people, but also to cattle, you fill the whole world with your countless miracles, and not only do you heal bodily ailments, but you also enlighten souls with the faith of Christ, strengthen them in the patience of illnesses, and strengthen them in serious illnesses. By correcting your life you admonish people and draw them to Christ through repentance. In the same way, now you will soon hear us, who fall before you before your honorable icon.
Young children, asking for your help in the teaching of the book, instruct them with your prayers, so that they will zealously, not just earthly, acquire teaching in your life, but, moreover, may they continually advance in piety and right faith. To those lying on their sick beds, desperate for human help, but to those who come running to you with warmth with faith and fervent prayer, grant healing of illnesses through your merciful, miraculous visit. Many times in illness and from severe illnesses you fall into despondency, cowardice and murmuring, strengthen and instruct with the grace given to you from God in patience, and instruct them, so that they understand God’s holy and perfect will for them, and they commend themselves and their lives to the will of Christ God. Crush those who are ill, who are careless about correcting their lives, who do not repent of their sins, who are hardened in heart, for salvation and call to repentance, so that those who are weak in body, may remain healthy in soul, and become partakers of God’s saving grace. Save the brethren of this holy temple, entrusted to your holy intercession by God, and all those who diligently come running to you unharmed from long illness, from severe and incurable diseases, from weakening of the body, from frenzy of mind, from deadly ulcers, from sudden death, and through your powerful intercession to Keep those who are strong in the right faith, those who advance in piety, those who are zealous in good deeds, and those who are diligent in prayer to God, so that together with you in the future they will be worthy to sing and glorify the all-holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer
O miracle workers of glory, physician of mercilessness, Cosmos and Damian! From your youth you have loved Christ God and kept His commandments with all your heart, even if you have given yourself medical teaching, but virtuous for the sake of life and purity of soul, by the power of Christ God, you are not a doctor. Gospel is only an art, but even more so the inexhaustible grace of healing all kinds of incurable ailments was received from God by nature. Because of your love and mercy for the sick ascetics, not only people, but also cattle, you provide healing of diseases, you fill the whole world with an innumerable multitude of your miracles, and not just physical ones. you heal ailments, but also with the faith of Christ you enlighten the soul, strengthen you in the patience of illnesses, in serious illnesses By correcting your life you admonish people and attract them to Christ through repentance. Moreover, now you will soon hear us, who fall to you before your honorable icon.
Young children, asking for your help in the teaching of the book, instruct with your prayers, so that your life with zeal, not earthly learning, but especially in piety and righteousness May they continue to prosper. To those who are lying on their beds of illness, grant human help to those desperate, but to those who come running to you with warmth with faith and fervent prayer, grant healing of illnesses with your merciful, miraculous visit. Many times, in illness and from severe illnesses, you fall into despondency, cowardice and murmuring, with the grace given to you from God in patience, confirm and instruct, so that God may understand the will of them This is holy and perfect, and they betray themselves and their life to the will of Christ God. In the ills that exist, about correcting the lives of those who are negligent, who do not repent of their sins, who are hardened in heart, crush them for salvation and call to repentance, so that the infirmities of the body may remain healthy in the soul, and The streets are made of God's saving grace. Preserve the brethren of this holy temple, entrusted to your holy intercession by God, and all who diligently resort to you unharmed from long-term illness, from severe and incurable diseases, from relaxation. la, from a frenzy of mind, from a deadly ulcer, from sudden death, and through your powerful intercession to Keep those who are strong in the right faith, those who advance in piety, who are diligent in good deeds, who are diligent in prayer to God, so that together with you in the future they will be able to sing everlastingly and with Love the all-holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Saints icons
Healers on the icons are depicted in tunics, himations, and boots. Both have beards. In the left hand of each is an amphora with oil, in the right - a feather. There are icons where, instead of a vessel with oil, there is a casket with drugs, and instead of a handle, there is a spoon. In the iconography of saints, hagiographic icons with stamps can be separately noted. That is, thematic plots describe periods of the brothers’ lives from birth to death.
The earliest images of the holy healers Cosmas and Damian are Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. They date back to the 5th century. Unlike common images, healers are dressed in light clothes. Empty hands raised to pray.
In the Roman Basilica of San Cosma and San Damiano there are wreaths on the hands of the saints. In Russia, mosaic scenes can be found in the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist near Bor.
