The great dispensers of God’s abundant mercy for the body and the soul, Saints Cosmas and Damian used their medicinal training as the outward explanation for the healing they wrought for their patients through calling on the Name of Jesus Christ. At this holy Name, both illnesses and demons fled instantly. Their fame having spread, they were denounced to the authorities in Rome. At first, the faithful prevailed upon them to hide in the mountains so they could continue their ministry. When, however, the pagans captured other Christians to endure torture and martyrdom in their place, the Saints chased down the convoy and revealed themselves to be the men for which they were looking. While they were being interrogated by the Emperor Carinus in Rome, the Saints pronounced the Lord’s therapeutic judgment on the Emperor who was inflicted with a twisting of his spine. In that state, acknowledged the God of the Christians and cried out for his help. He was delivered from the condition at the prayers of Saints Cosmas and Damian and accepted the Faith then and there. The saints were released, by the enemy never stopped looking for a chance to silence the holy unmercenaries. One day they were lured into the wilderness by a man who had befriended them for the purpose of getting close to them. Once there, he threw himself on them, murdered, them and buried their bodies in a shallow grave. When they didn’t return, the people began to search for them. Along the way, they encountered a man whom all knew to be demon possessed calm and in his right mind. When they asked him how he had been delivered, he took them to a place where he said he had been overcome by divine power. There they found the bodies of the two Saints. Since then, they have never ceased to work deliverance and healings for those who asked for their intercession.
Hymnography
Ye physicians of the sick and treasuries of healings, ye saviors of the faithful, O all-famed Unmercenaries, heal them that are in pain and cry out in need, as ye entreat the Good God that He deliver us from the snares of the enemy.
(The Entreaty, Fifth Troparion; Vespers)
Ye were see to be swords mortally wounding invisible adversaries; wherefore deliver us from their arrows also, and preserver our life, O wise Unmercenaries.
(Ode Four, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Strengthened with the might of Christ, ye have utterly destroyed all the power of him that is mighty in evil; from whose tyranny deliver us, as our unsleeping protectors, O Unmercenaries.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Having received the grace of healing, ye extend health to those in need, O glorious and wonderworking physicians. Hence, by your visitation, cast down the audacity of our enemies, and by your miracles, heal the world.
(Kontakion; Orthros Canon)
Committing your pure spirits unto the Lord, O Unmercenaries, ye received from Him the grace ever to drive out unclean spirits, from whose bitter wickedness do ye rescue us all.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Gushing forth as rivers with the Spirit’s mightily flowing tides, pouring forth as a spreading sea, ye water creation with wonders and divine signs; with your cures, O God-bearers, which ye wondrously bestow, ye dry up sufferings that undermine the soul; ye heal our hard diseases and make unclean spirits to flee in fear, O ye Unmercenary Saints, who entreat in our souls’ behalf.
(Praises, First Troparion; Orthros)
Having the source of healing, O holy Unmercenaries, ye grant healing to all that make supplication, since ye have been deemed worthy of great gifts from the ever-flowing fountain of Christ the Savior. For the Lord hath said unto you, since ye have zeal like the Apostles: Behold, I have given you authority over unclean spirits, that ye might cast them out and heal every disease and every sickness. Wherefore, having lived well by His commandments, freely ye received, freely ye give, healing the passions of our souls and bodies.
(Praises, Doxastikon; Orthros)
Category: Unmercenary Healer
Indicates saints who offered healing to others – bothy physical and spiritual – for free.
Martyr Thalleleus
A holy unmercenary who healed the sick of all backgrounds free of charge, Saint Thalleleus asked only that all would turn their hearts unto Christ who is the true Great Physician. By his ministry he truly showed that, when the Lord so wills, the order of nature is overcome. By his prayers the sick were healed. In his sufferings at the hands of Governor Theodore, the eyes of his torturers were blinded, and the strength of the tyrant failed. Like the Three Holy Children, fire was for him a cooling dew. When he was abandoned at sea, the waters placidly carried him back to shore. Beasts meant to devour him gamboled at his feet. Having been made victorious over the visible creation, he, as a co-worker with God, also put the invisible creation back into order, casting out demons by the sign of the cross and through the proclamation of the Name of Christ, the One who heals all ills.
Hymnography
Guarded by piety and strengthened by the grace of the All-compassionate God, O Thalleleus, thou didst set out for struggles with a courageous mind, destroying the strongholds of the enemy and carrying off the victory.
(Ode One, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
We know thee to be a most holy temple and dwelling of the Three-Sun Glory, O blessed Thalleleus, who didst dash to pieces the temples and idols of the evil demons.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou didst turn to flight the hordes of demons, O wise Thalleleus, having the holy Angels as fellow workers at the time of thy struggles, by whom thou wast shown to be a crown-bearer and didst attain to glory.
(Ode Six, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
By the working of miracles, thou deliverest the faithful from diverse sicknesses, freeing them from temptations and driving away the battalions of demons by thine entreaties, O adornment of Martyrs.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthos Canon)
Piously proclaiming one nature and one will and counsel and might of the Divine Trinity, O glorious Thalleleus, thou didst wisely destroy the blasphemy of many gods; and having patiently endured many pains, thou wast greatly glorified.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
By the stroke of the sword, thou wast offered up as an unblemished and holy victim unto the sacrificed Lamb, and slowest the serpent who once in Paradise destroyed Adam and Eve with the death of disobedience.
(Ode Eight, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Pausicacius, Bishop of Synnada
An unmercenary physician of the body in the world, Saint Pausicacius became a monk and also began caring for the souls of those who came to him for aid. He especially enjoyed cases that had otherwise been given up as hopeless. Having increased his ascetic striving, the Lord worked miraculous healings by his prayers, setting aright deformities of the body (especially children), and casting out demons that caused deformities of the soul. Later, as a result of his growing renown, he was made Bishop of Synnada where he rightly divided the word of truth showing zeal for the true Faith.