The Holy Martyrs and UnMercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Arabia

The Holy Martyrs and UnMercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (Commemorated on October 17) walked through the cities and the villages, preaching Christ and healing the sick by the power of Christ. The saints would not take any sort of payment for the help they rendered. In Cilicia pagans seized hold of the holy physicians and led them before the governor named Lysias. For their refusal to renounce the Christian faith, the governor gave orders for the saints to be brutally beaten, and then to drown them in the sea. But an Angel of God conveyed them from the deeps to shore. The governor asked if he could be instructed in this sorcery. Cosmas and Damian said that they possessed the power of Christ and that others could call on Him as well. They were thrown into fire, but remained unharmed. They were suspended and stoned, but instead the stones struck their tormentors. Arrows were shot at them, but they returned to strike those who shot them. The pagans then beheaded the saints. Together with the holy physicians were martyred also their brothers Leontios, Anthimus and Eutropius. (The UnMercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia ought not to be confused with UnMercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor – Comm. 1 November, or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome – Comm. 1 July).

(2014 Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints & Fasting Calendar)