| Tomorrow, Monday, July 27, is the feast of the Holy Unmercenary Healer and Greatmartyr, St. Panteleimon. Please find attached below a Prayer to St. Panteleimon in Times of a Pandemic. Let us join on his feast to ask his healing intercession and protection during these stressful and burdensome times. A brief biography follows this introduction. The holy, glorious, right-victorious Greatmartyr Panteleimon was martyred under the reign of Emperor Maximian in 305 AD. His feast day is July 27, next Monday. As a physician and unmercenary healer, it it appropriate that we pray on Monday that through his intercession, we be delivered from the current pandemic. His parents were Eustorgius of Nicomedia, a pagan, and Saint Eubula (March 30). They named him Pantaleon, which means in all things like a lion, but when he converted to Christianity, he changed his name to Panteleimon, which means all-merciful. He learned about Christianity from the priest who later baptized him, Saint Hermolaus. Hermolaus was living with two other priests, Hermippus and Hermocrates; the three were “survivors of the massacre of 20,000 Christians in 303 (December 28). He treated all those who turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus Christ. He visited those held captive in prison. These were usually Christians, and he healed them of their wounds. In a short time, reports of the charitable physician spread throughout the city. Forsaking the other doctors, the inhabitants began to turn only to St. Panteleimon. Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates were brought forth; they confessed and were beheaded. Throughout the many tortures, St. Panteleimon remained untouched. Enraged, Maximian ordered that St. Panteleimon be beheaded. The soldiers took him to an olive tree, but when they struck him while he was praying, the sword melted like wax. After he finished his prayer, a voice was heard from Heaven, calling the passion-bearer by his new name and summoning him to the heavenly Kingdom. He instructed the soldiers to rise from their knees where they had fallen in fear and to complete the execution. After they followed his instruction, the olive tree became covered with fruit. Although his body was thrown into a fire, it came out unharmed and was buried by Christians. His head is located on the island of Andros at the Panachrantos monastery[2] and, on occasions, is taken to other monasteries for veneration. Some of his relics can be found at the Putna Monastery (Bucovina, Romania), as well as in the Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Constanţa, Romania. Prayer to St. Panteleimon is attached below. |
| Attachments: |
| PANTELEIMON PRAYER.pdf |