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Church of SS. Cosmas and Damian SS. Cosmas and Damian Martyrs
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History: According to legend,
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers, the first of a family of seven
brothers, born in the third century, in Arabia. They studied medicine in
Syria and then practiced the art of healing and lived in the Seaport of
Aegea, now Ayash (Ajass), on the gulf of Iskanderun in Cilicia, Asia Minor,
and attained a great reputation becoming widely known for their great
medical skills. The twins are credited for being the first to attempt a limb
transplant on a human being. They accepted no pay for their services and
work, and were therefore, called anargyroi, "the silverless". In this way
they brought many to the Catholic faith. When the Diocletian persecution began, these miraculous patrons of medicine were accused of being Christians by two fellow doctors. Prefect Lysias, the governor of the city of Aega, had Cosmas and Damian arrested, and ordered them to recant. They refused and were tried in a court of Caesar's and sentenced to death by torture. The first torture was being cast into the sea with both hands and feet bound. A miracle occurred as they became free, enabling them to swim ashore. Their second torture was burning at the stake. A second miracle occurred as the flames failed to burn them. The third torture was flogging. A third miracle occurred as the whips would not hit their marks. After a final demand that they renounce their Christian faith was refused, Saints Cosmas and Damian were decapitated. Their three brothers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius died as martyrs with them. The execution took place on September 27th, probably in the year 287. At a later date a number of tales grew up about them, connected in part with their relics. The remains of the martyrs were buried in the city of Cyrus in Syria. The Emperor Justinian I (527 -- 565) sumptuously restored the city in their honor. Having been cured of a dangerous illness by the intercession of Cosmas and Damian, Justinian, in gratitude for their aid, rebuilt and adorned their Church at Constantinople, and it became a celebrated place of pilgrimage. At Rome, Pope Felix IV (526 - 530) erected a Church in their honor, the mosaics of which are still among the most valuable art remains of the city. Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems. They are invoked in the Canon of the Mass and in the Litany of the Saints. Saints Cosmas and Damian are the patrons of the city of Gaeta, Italy. It is believed that through their intercession the city's population was spared during an 18th century plague. Other patronage of these saints are as: apothecaries, barbers, blind people, chemical industry, chemical manufacturers, doctors, druggists, hairdressers, hernias, midwives, pharmacists, relief from pestilence. Their feast is celebrated on September 26th.
O glorious Saints Cosmas and Damian, following the path of Jesus, our Divine Physician, you reached out to the sick and suffering providing cures for their illnesses. I come to you in need of healing graces. Here my prayer, that God may answer my needs. Turn my suffering into strength, turn my anxiety into peace, turn my sadness into the hope, turn my loneliness into faith in God's love, turn my illness into good health, and help me with the special needs. (Mentioning your needs) Amen. Other images of Saints Cosmas & Damian:
1. Butler, Father Alban. Lives of the Saints - With Reflections for Every Daily in the Year. Copyright 1955. Benziger Brothers, Inc. P. 324 2. Delaney, John J. Dictionary of Saints. Copyright 1980. P. 161 3. Prayer card Franciscan University of Steubenville, 1235 University Blvd., OH 43952. Prayer composed by: Third Order Regular of Saints Francis, American 4. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV. Copyright 1908 by Robert Appleton Company. Online edition copyright 1999 by Kevin Knight 5. The Liturgy of the Hours According to the Roman Rite, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, (C) 1975, Volume IV, pp. 1421, 1423. 6.
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