FEAST DAY OF ST. PANTELEIMON (THE ALL-MERCIFUL)

One of the four Evangelists of the New Testament, St. Luke, was known as the "glorious physician." St. Panteleimon was also a "glorious physician," having practiced his noble profession in the ancient and famous city of Nicomedia, Asia Minor. St. Panteleimon was born in the year 275 A.D. and was a handsom lad. His father was an intellectual and a scholar. He was also a pagan who did not believe in the new Christian Faith. His mother was a saintly woman who had become a divout Christian at an early age. St. Panteleimon studied medicine under the most famous physician in the empire, Euphrosinos. For years Panteleimon worked and studied at the side of Euphrosinos. He soon became equally as talented as his teacher. He loved his chosen profession. He was the envy of all other physicians, admired by everyone. The Emperor Maximinian was also fond of Panteleimon and followed his amazing career in the field of medicine. Panteleimon spent many hours each day in the Emperor's court. His reputation as a skilled physician quickly spread throughout the empire.

As young Panteleimon left his home each morning to goabout his appointed rounds, he was obeerved by a pious old man by the name of Ermolaos, who lived just across the street. Ermolaos was one of the most devoted Christians of the Church. He remained in hiding since the purge against the Christians was resumed under the cruel hand of Emperor Maximinian. Ermolaos approached Panteleimon one day and invited him into his sanctuary, where he told him about the meaning of Christianity; Panteleimon soon became a devout Christian and was baptized by Ermoiaos. Panteleimon became known as the "great healer" and worked many miracles by invoking the name of Jesus Christ upon those who came in search of assistance. He soon persuaded his father to abandon his beliefs in pagan gods, and both were united by the love of God.

The Emperor soon learned of Panteleimon's Christian Faith and quickly demanded that he swear allegiance to the pagan gods. When Panteleimon refused to abadon his faith, the Emperor ordered that he be tortured until he gave up Christ. The tortures that the young physician underwent were among the worst suffered by a human being. Yet he escaped unharmed, and word spread that Panteleimon could not be killed. The Emperor, believing that the young physician ws under a spell of witchcraft, ordered a huge stone tied about his waist and then he was tossed into the river. The stone floated, together with Panteleimon, and many hundreds of soldiers watching from the banks of the river accepted Christ. Panteleimon was then subjected to the henchman's axe. The soldiers refused to take part in the execution, and it was only upon the insistence of Panteleimon that they carried out the Emperos's orders. As the axe fell, a voice was heard from heaven saying, "well done Panteleimon (the all-merciful one). " As the head of Panteleimon fell, tradition tells us that milk flowed from the saintly body of Panteleimon rather than blood. His suffered martyrdom on July 27th, 304 A.D.