The Orthodox Church venerates many saints. Among them is the Holy Healer Panteleimon. Icons with his image are very revered by believers. They turn to him when the rite of consecration of water and Unction are performed. There are icons depicting this saint in almost all the homes of Orthodox Christians and in all Orthodox churches.
They pray to Saint Panteleimon when difficult life situations arise, for example, with serious illnesses. The saint grants healing of soul and body.
Life of the Holy Healer Panteleimon
On the icons the saint looks like a young man. He holds a casket and a spoon in his hands (as a symbol that he is a doctor who will always come to the rescue). The saint’s entire life was spent in daily helping the suffering: he was a doctor and, turning to God, healed people from illnesses. Once he was able to bring a dead man back to life and restore the sight of a blind man.
At that time, most people professed a pagan faith, and Christians were persecuted. Panteleimon was a Christian, so he was captured and taken into custody, where, by order of Emperor Maximilian, he was subjected to painful torture. This did not break the spirit of the saint; he prayed intensely, turning to the Lord, and this allowed him to withstand incredible torment. Even those who carried out the emperor's orders were admired by Panteleimon's courage and fortitude and believed him. Having learned about this, the emperor became furious and ordered Panteleimon's head to be cut off. His order was carried out.
After Panteleimon was beheaded, it was decided to burn his body, but the fire was unable to harm his flesh. When Christians saw what happened with their own eyes, they decided to bury the relics with honors.
Olive Oil Museum in Xi'an
In fact, there is a small workshop here where several generations of the same family produce olive oil. There is also a store decorated like a museum. In this small museum you can see various old tools for making oil - different containers, pipes, stone presses, jugs, vessels, etc. A film is shown on the big screen telling how olive oil has been produced since time immemorial. Portraits of ancestors hang on the walls. I really liked this tradition - in many family stores, shops, taverns there are photographs of grandparents and other relatives. In the store you can also taste the oil - they offer different tastes and aromas: with garlic, spices, herbs, lemon, etc. Of course, all this can be bought here. They also offer olives themselves, natural soap based on olive oil, and some other jars - I still don’t understand what they contain.
Where are the relics of St. Panteleimon?
Parts of the holy healer's body spread throughout the land. His head is in Greece (in the temple on Mount Athos). In Madrid - blood collected in a capsule. You can venerate his relics in Moscow: in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Sokolniki district) and in the Church of the Great Martyr Nikita (Goncharnaya Street, near Chistye Prudy).
Siana honey
In general, Siana resembles one continuous shopping street. Considering that thousands of pilgrims and tourists come to the village every year, this is quite understandable. In addition, Siana is also famous as a village of moonshiners: it is believed that the best grape moonshine is prepared here - sumu, which tourists are happy to buy. And of course, we can’t help but mention the famous local honey. Thyme honey is considered a specialty here; local beekeepers are confident that high-quality honey of this variety can only be bought here and nowhere else. They also produce different types of flower honey and very aromatic pine honey. Prices here are initially higher than in supermarkets, but you can bargain. In general, the place is interesting - bright, colorful, memorable.
The Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is one of the most revered saints of the Orthodox Church. The name of the great martyr is invoked when performing the sacrament of the Blessing of Unction, the blessing of water and prayer for the weak. Just as during his earthly life the holy healer Panteleimon devoted himself to caring for the suffering, the sick, and the poor, so he does not cease to help now everyone who turns to him in prayer.
The holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon was born in Bithynia (Asia Minor) in the city of Nicomedia into the family of a noble pagan Eustorgius and was named Pantoleon (which means “a lion throughout”), since his parents wanted to see him as a courageous and fearless young man. His mother, Saint Evvula, raised the boy in the Christian faith, but ended her earthly life early. Then his father sent Pantoleon to a pagan school, and then taught him the art of medicine from the famous doctor Euphrosynus in Nicomedia. Distinguished by his eloquence, good behavior and extraordinary beauty, young Pantoleon was introduced to Emperor Maximian (284-305), who wanted to keep him as a court physician. At this time, the Hieromartyrs Presbyters Ermolai, Ermippus and Hermocrates lived secretly in Nicomedia, having survived the burning of 20 thousand Christians in the Nicomedia Church in 303 and the suffering of the Hieromartyr Anthimus. From the window of a secluded house, Saint Hermolai repeatedly saw a handsome young man and shrewdly saw in him the chosen vessel of God's grace. One day the presbyter called Pantoleon to his place and began a conversation with him, during which he explained to him the basic truths of the Christian faith. From then on, Pantoleon began to visit the Hieromartyr Ermolai every day and listened with pleasure to what God’s servant revealed to him about the Sweetest Jesus Christ. One day, returning from the teacher, the young man saw a dead child lying on the road, bitten by an echidna, which was wiggling right next to him. Filled with compassion and pity, Pantoleon began to ask the Lord to resurrect the deceased and kill the poisonous reptile. He firmly decided that if his prayer was fulfilled, he would become a Christian and receive holy Baptism. And by the action of Divine grace the child came to life, and the echidna scattered into pieces before the eyes of the surprised Pantoleon. After this miracle, Saint Hermolai baptized the young man in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The newly baptized man spent seven days with his spirit-bearing teacher, absorbing the divinely revealed truths of the Holy Gospel into his heart. Having become a Christian, Pantoleon often talked with his father, revealing to him the falsity of paganism and gradually preparing him to accept Christianity. At this time, Pantoleon was already known as a good doctor, so they brought to him a blind man whom no one else could heal. “The Father of Light will return light to your eyes. True God,” the saint told him, “in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, who enlightens the blind, receive your sight!” The blind man immediately received his sight, and along with him, the saint’s father, Eustorgius, also received his spiritual sight, and both joyfully accepted holy Baptism. After the death of his father, Saint Pantoleon dedicated his life to the suffering, sick, poor and poor. He treated everyone who turned to him free of charge, visited prisoners in prisons and at the same time healed the suffering not so much with medical means, but by invoking the Lord Jesus Christ. This caused envy, and the doctors reported to the emperor that Saint Pantoleon was a Christian and was treating Christian prisoners.
Maximian persuaded the saint to refute the denunciation and sacrifice to idols, but the chosen passion-bearer of Christ and the blessed physician confessed himself to be a Christian and, in front of the emperor’s eyes, healed the paralytic:
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, arise and be healthy,”
said Saint Pantoleon, and the sick man immediately recovered.
The embittered Maximian ordered the execution of the healed man, and betrayed Saint Pantoleon to the cruellest tortures. “Lord Jesus Christ!
Appear to me at this moment, give me patience so that I can endure the torment to the end!” - the saint prayed and heard a voice:
“Do not be afraid, I am with you.”
The Lord appeared to him “in the form of presbyter Ermolai” and strengthened him before suffering.
The Great Martyr Pantoleon was hanged from a tree and his body was torn with iron hooks, burned with candles, stretched on a wheel, thrown into boiling tin, and thrown into the sea with a stone around his neck. However, in all the tortures, the courageous Pantoleon remained unharmed and boldly denounced the emperor. The Lord repeatedly appeared to the saint and strengthened him. At the same time, presbyters Ermolai, Ermippus and Hermocrates appeared before the court of the pagans. They courageously confessed the Sweetest Lord Jesus and were beheaded (July 26). By order of the emperor, the holy great martyr Pantoleon was brought to the circus and thrown to be torn to pieces by wild animals. But the animals licked his feet and pushed each other away, trying to touch the saint’s hand. Seeing this, the spectators rose from their seats and began shouting: “Great is the Christian God!
May the innocent and righteous young man be released!” The enraged Maximian ordered the soldiers to kill with swords all who glorified the Lord Jesus, and even kill the animals that did not touch the holy martyr.
Seeing this, Saint Pantoleon exclaimed: “Glory to Thee, Christ God, that not only people, but also animals die for You!”
Finally, maddened with rage, Maximian ordered the head of the Great Martyr Pantoleon to be cut off.
The soldiers brought the saint to the place of execution and tied him to an olive tree. When the great martyr began to pray to the Lord, one of the soldiers hit him with a sword, but the sword became soft like wax and did not cause any wound. Amazed by the miracle, the soldiers shouted: “Great is the Christian God!”
At this time, the Lord once again revealed himself to the saint, calling him Panteleimon (which means “much merciful”) instead of his previous name Pantoleon, for his great mercy and compassion. Hearing the Voice from Heaven, the soldiers fell to their knees before the martyr and asked for forgiveness. The executioners refused to continue the execution, but the Great Martyr Panteleimon ordered the emperor’s order to be carried out. Then the soldiers said goodbye to the great martyr with tears, kissing his hand. When the martyr's head was cut off, milk flowed out of the wound along with blood, and the olive tree to which the saint was tied, at that moment blossomed and was filled with healing fruits. Seeing this, many people believed in Christ Jesus. The body of Saint Panteleimon, thrown into the fire, remained undamaged, and then the Nicomedia Passion-Bearer was buried by Christians on the nearby land of the scholastic Adamantium. Lawrence, Vassa and Provian, servants of the great martyr, wrote a narrative about the life, suffering and death of the great martyr.
Help from the Holy Healer Panteleimon
The saint is the patron of doctors, military men and sailors. Those people whose professional activities involve protecting others should turn their prayers to Panteleimon and to the Lord. This will facilitate their enormous work and give spiritual strength in their noble cause.
An icon depicting the Holy Healer Panteleimon helps people suffering from serious illnesses; those who are experiencing great difficulties in life; people who need soul healing; those who get tired quickly and who want to improve their overall well-being; to everyone who wants to preserve their health, gain courage and strengthen their fortitude.
It is also believed that the Holy Healer Panteleimon will protect the house from fire.
You need to address Saint Panteleimon in front of the icon with his image. If the house does not have the necessary icon, it should be purchased at any church shop located at the temple. While saying the prayer, you need to be alone in the room so that unity with the icon occurs. You can light a candle, this will make the prayer more heartfelt and allow you to tune in to the right mood. It is necessary to read the prayer with sincere love. You can even hold a church liturgy. But still, there is nothing better than sincere, living prayer, spoken personally and from the heart.
Prayer for health and healing
O great saint of Christ, passion-bearer and merciful physician, Panteleimon! Have mercy on me, a sinful slave, hear my groaning and cry, propitiate the heavenly, supreme Physician of our souls and bodies, Christ our God, may He grant me healing from the illness that oppresses me.
Accept the unworthy prayer of the most sinful man above all, visit me with a gracious visit, do not disdain my sinful sores, anoint them with the oil of your mercy and heal me: yes, healthy in soul and body, I can spend the rest of my days, by the grace of God, in repentance and pleasing God and I will be worthy to receive a good end to my life.
Hey, servant of God! Pray to Christ God, that through your intercession he may grant me health to my body and salvation to my soul. Amen.
