Saint Panteleimon
Greatmartyr and Healer
July 27
Spiritual Significance
Saint Panteleimon was a Christian physician and martyr honoured in the Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr and one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers.
He was born in Nicomedia (in present-day Turkey) and trained as a doctor. As a young man he learned about the Christian faith from the priest Saint Hermolaus, who taught him about Christ.
According to tradition, Panteleimon witnessed a miracle when he prayed in the name of Christ and a child who had died from a snake bite was restored to life. After this, he was baptised and devoted himself completely to serving Christ.
Saint Panteleimon became known for healing the sick and helping the poor without accepting payment. During the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Maximian, he was arrested for his faith. Despite many sufferings, he remained faithful to Christ and was eventually martyred.
The Orthodox Church honours Saint Panteleimon as a compassionate healer and a powerful intercessor for those who are sick.
Iconography
In icons, Saint Panteleimon is usually shown as a young man without a beard, symbolising his youth at the time of his martyrdom.
He often wears a green tunic and a red cloak, traditional colours used in iconography for martyrs.
The saint usually holds a small medical box or medicine chest containing remedies. In his other hand he may hold a spoon or small instrument, showing his work as a physician who cared for the sick.
These symbols remind us that Saint Panteleimon healed people both through his medical knowledge and through prayer to Christ.
Did You Know?
Saint Panteleimon is honoured as one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, saints who healed the sick without accepting payment.
Because of this, many Orthodox Christians ask for his prayers when they are ill or in need of healing, and he is especially loved as a protector of doctors, nurses, and those who are sick.