Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian of Asia and Their Mother, Venerable Theodotia (3rd Century) — November 1 / November 14 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, November 1 according to the Julian Calendar (November 14 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian of Asia and their mother, Venerable Theodotia.

The holy unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian were brothers by birth who lived in Asia (Asia Minor). Their mother, Theodotia, a devout Christian, was widowed early. Raised in piety, the brothers were distinguished by remarkable works of charity. Wishing to be of even greater benefit to their neighbours, they set out to master the art of healing: they studied the medicinal properties of herbs and plants and soon became physicians deeply versed in their craft. The Lord blessed His chosen ones and, through the power of prayer, granted them the gift of healing both spiritual and bodily infirmities. The saints healed not only people but animals as well, and accepted no payment of any kind for the help they gave. For this the people called them the Unmercenaries.

Once the holy physicians were summoned to a gravely ill woman named Palladia, whom every other physician had refused to treat because of the seriousness of her condition. Through Palladia’s faith and the fervent prayer of the blessed brothers, the Lord healed the dying woman.

Filled with gratitude, the woman came to Damian, offered him three eggs and said: “Accept this small gift in the name of the All-Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Hearing the name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary did not dare to refuse.

Cosmas was deeply grieved, believing that Damian had broken their strict vow, and before his death he asked not to be buried beside his brother. Soon Damian also reposed. Everyone was perplexed and could not decide where the holy physician should be laid to rest. Then, by the will of God, a miracle took place: a camel that the unmercenary physicians had once healed of rabies came before the people, spoke with a human voice, and told everyone to bury Damian beside Cosmas without any hesitation, for he had accepted the woman’s gift not out of greed but in the name of the Lord. The holy relics of the blessed brothers were buried together at Pheremma in Mesopotamia.

The holy unmercenaries worked many miracles after their repose as well. A Christian man named Malchus, who lived near the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Pheremma, entrusted his young wife to the holy brothers before setting out on a long journey, committing her to their heavenly protection. Some time later an acquaintance of Malchus came to the woman’s house and said: “Your husband has sent me to bring you to him.” Malchus’s wife trusted the visitor and went with him, but the man led her to a deserted place, where he tried first to violate her and then to kill her. Suddenly two young men appeared as if from nowhere. The treacherous man tried to flee, but fell headlong into a ravine. The young men brought Malchus’s wife safely home. At the threshold of her house, the miraculously rescued woman bowed low before them in thanks and asked: “What are your names, my deliverers? To whom do I owe my life?” “We are Cosmas and Damian, servants of Christ,” the young men answered, and vanished.

Trembling and overjoyed, the woman told everyone what had happened to her and, filled with gratitude to God and in tears, turned to the icon of Cosmas and Damian and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for her deliverance. From that day on, the holy unmercenary physician brothers have been venerated as protectors of the holiness and steadfastness of the Christian family.