Great Martyr Panteleimon

Commemorated July 27th

Panteleimon, whose name means all-merciful, was born in Nicomedia, Asia Minor, in 275 AD. Even though his father was of a pagan background, he was able to foster a strong intellect in the young boy by providing him with a good education. Panteleimon’s mother was a devout Christian, responsible for imbuing her son with the knowledge of the Lord.

As a student of Euphrosinus, the most noted Physician of the Roman Empire, Panteleimon was being groomed for greatness due to his great skill and dedication. Emperor Maximilian’s attention was also piqued by this young physician, and gave him his active encouragement and support. This, of course, could only help in establishing Panteleimon as the foremost physician of the entire known world. He thus served the public with unflinching fervour and enthusiasm.

After a meeting with a pious Christian priest, Ermolaos, Panteleimon became aware of the power of the greatest healer of mankind, Jesus Christ. He thereafter interwove the power of the Lord with his medicinal skills, performing many miracles and healings by invoking the name of Christ.

The emperor also heard of Panteleimon’s Christian conviction. As with many martyr saints of our Church, Panteleimon was interrogated and forced to choose between worshipping the idols of the Empire or Christ. The emperor felt betrayed that a personal favourite of his had been converted. Having chosen Christ, Panteleimon was tortured by being burnt with candles while stretched on a rack. Moreover, he was cast into a lair of wild animals and then into a fiery pit. Having survived all this, they attempted to drown him by tying him to a large rock and throwing him into a deep river. Amazingly, the rock wouldn’t sink! Panteleimon was finally beheaded on 27th July, 304 AD. Miraculously, milk instead of blood flowed from the severed head of the martyr. To this day, many healing miracles continue to be attributed to the great martyr, the patron saint of physicians and of medicine.

First published in Lychnos July 2009