Damian of Rome

Holy Unmercenary Physician Damian of Rome was the brother of Saint Cosmas, both born in Rome, physicians by profession, martyrs and wonderworkers. They received the crown of martyrdom in Rome, in the time of Emperor Carinus (283-284). They are commemorated on 14 July.

Life and healings

Raised by Christian parents in the rules of piety, they led a strict and pure life and were found worthy by God of the gift of healing illnesses. By their kind and unpaid dealing with people, joined with exceptional mercy, the brothers brought many to Christ. The saints used to tell the sick that they did not heal by their own strength, but by the strength of Christ, the true God, and that if they believed in Him they would be well. Because they healed without payment, the brothers were called unmercenary physicians. Their service to their neighbour and their spiritual influence, which brought many into the Church, drew the attention of the Roman authorities. Soldiers were sent for the physicians. Hearing this, the Christians asked Cosmas and Damian to hide for a time, for the sake of those who ran to them for help. Not finding them, the soldiers seized other Christians in the village where the saints lived. Then Cosmas and Damian left their hiding place and gave themselves into the hands of the Roman soldiers, asking that the hostages taken in their place be released.

The trial

In Rome the saints were first shut in prison, then taken to trial. The brothers openly confessed, before the emperor and the court, their faith in Christ God, who came to earth to save mankind and redeem the sin of the world, and firmly refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. They said that they had done no harm to anyone, that they did not practise spells and sorcery, as they were accused, that they healed illnesses by the power of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and took no payment, because the Lord had commanded His disciples: freely you have received, freely give. The emperor nevertheless persisted. At the prayer of the holy brothers, filled with the power of grace, God struck Carinus with a sudden illness, so that he might learn by experience the almighty power of the Lord, who does not forgive blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The people who saw the wonder cried out that great is the God of the Christians and there is no other God but Him. Many who believed asked the holy physicians to heal the emperor, and he himself begged them, promising to turn to the true God, Christ the Saviour. The saints healed him. After this Cosmas and Damian were released with honour and set again to healing the sick.

The end

But what the hatred of the pagans and the cruelty of the Roman authorities could not do, was done by envy, one of the strongest passions of sinful nature. An old physician, the teacher from whom the brothers had learned the art of medicine, began to envy their glory. Driven to frenzy by this cunning passion, he summoned the brothers, whom he had once loved as pupils, supposedly to gather rare medicinal herbs, led them far into the mountains, killed them and threw their bodies into the river. So ended the earthly life of the unmercenary healers, who had given their whole life to the Christian service of their neighbour, who had escaped the sword and the prison of Rome, but were treacherously killed by their teacher. The Lord glorified His chosen ones. And now, through the prayers of the unmercenary physicians, all who run with faith to their protection receive healing from God. A part of the relics of the holy martyrs lies in the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome in Stary Pany, in Moscow.