The Feast of Panteleimon the Healer is celebrated with a solemn service in the church church every year on August 9. They accompany worship with prayers for the recovery of the most serious patients.
History of Panteleimon the Healer
The future Christian healer was born in the Asia Minor city of Nicomedia, at the beginning of the IV century. Panteleimon was born in the family of the famous pagan Eustorgius at that time. The boy’s mother was a Christian who made every effort to ensure that his son grew up in this faith. However, the woman died early, and the father still gave the child to study in a pagan school.
Studying at school was easy for the child, and after graduation, Papa gave Panteleimon to study the art of medicine with the famous doctor Efrosin in Nicomedia. A gifted guy who wanted to learn how to cure people's diseases was noticed by priest Ermolai. He repeatedly invited Panteleimon to share his opinion about the Christian faith and about Jesus, who could heal a person through prayer or the touch of his hand.
The healer himself believed in Christ at the time when he called to him with a request to heal a boy who was bitten by a snake, since no other treatment had the necessary effect. After reading the prayer, the child was healed and came to his senses.
After this incident, Panteleimon believed and decided to devote his life to serving the Almighty and those around him. He healed those who turned to him for free in the Name of Jesus Christ. The healer came to prison to prisoners, especially to Christians, and healed them of wounds. After some time, rumors of a gracious healer spread throughout the city. Residents from all the districts began to come only to St. Panteleimon, asking to be cured of various ailments and ailments.
The fame of a young healer reached Rome. However, in addition to the respect and the mass of admirers of the talent of the healer-miracle worker, Panteleimon appeared envious. These were those doctors who lost a significant part of their income, since now all patients turned for help exclusively to the healer.
For excellence in the medical profession, Panteleimon was introduced to Emperor Maximilian, who had the idea of leaving the healer at his court as a court physician. With the only condition that he renounced his faith.
In order to prove that his God is true, a young doctor suggested that the emperor arrange a contest with a pagan healer, during which one of them should cure a seriously ill person. Panteleimon succeeded in a matter of moments, which aroused the faith of other pagan doctors, and they converted to Christianity. However, the emperor did not like this course of events, and he ordered Panteleimon to be tied to an olive tree and beheaded.
Customs
On the feast of Panteleimon the Healer, it is customary to collect medicinal herbs and plants, which, according to legend, have a special power on this day. In gardens and summer cottages on this day it is customary to remove the first head of cabbage. Also, in honor of St. Panteleimon, according to tradition, it is customary to cook pies with fresh cabbage, which should then be distributed to children, passers-by or poor people.
Our ancestors believed that those who were born on an Orthodox holiday can have the gift of healing and wonderfully understand all the healing properties of medicinal herbs. And what cannot be done on the feast of Panteleimon the Healer? And what can you ask a saint for?
What is impossible on the feast of Panteleimon the Healer?
In addition to the traditions and customs that have been followed for many years, there are a number of prohibitions. So, on this day, ordinary people were always afraid of a thunderstorm and did not go out to work on the field. Because there was a belief that Paly (as Panteleimon was called before) could burn all the bread.
What to ask for on holiday?
Panteleimon, as a rule, is addressed for any ailments and slight ailments. It is also customary to ask a saint for good health for himself and his relatives. Very often Panteleimon is asked to help not only with physical suffering, but also with emotional experiences. There is an opinion that on the holiday of Panteleimon the Healer can help in solving any, even seemingly hopeless situation.
In Orthodoxy, the saint is revered as a healer, healer and patron of soldiers (military). The explanation for this is given by the first name of the saint, which sounds like Patoleon, which can be translated as "a lion in everything."
On the feast of Panteleimon the Healer, many parents turn to the saint. They pray to him, asking for deliverance from diseases among children and loved ones.