According to the Orthodox doctrine, the Lord grants grace to the saints to help people exactly in what they themselves succeeded in the days of their earthly life. That is why many generations of people offer prayers for recovery to St. Panteleimon the Healer - the glorified healer of bodily and mental illnesses, who performed his great service during the most brutal persecutions against Christians launched by Emperor Maximian at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Finger of god
The reason that a prayer to Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of a sick person is heard, provided there is a deep faith in the omnipotence of God, lies in the very history of his earthly life. Born in 275 in a wealthy family living in the city of Nicomedia (the territory of present-day Turkey), from an early age he joined the Christian truths, which he comprehended from the words of his mother, who secretly professed faith in the Son of God Jesus Christ.
It is important to note: the father of the future saint, Eustorgius, was a pagan and at birth he called his characteristic name for this religion - Pantoleon. However, sympathizing with the Christian doctrine of forgiveness and love for others, he did not prevent his wife from instructing her son in the commandments granted by the Savior.
The child was still very small when the Lord allowed the death of his mother, which was the result of a serious and painful illness. Perhaps it was this circumstance that first filled the child’s heart with compassion for sick people and was that Pointing Finger of God that determined his entire future life path. One of the reasons for the extraordinary grace of the prayers we offer to Panteleimon the Healer for recovery is undoubtedly in the providential role of the Almighty.
Happy start of medical activity
Remaining an orphan, the youngster Pantoleon was given by his father to a pagan school, which was in accordance with the custom of those years when polytheism was the official state religion and had not yet given way to Christianity. Having shown outstanding abilities and having completed a general education course, the young man began to study medicine, the secrets of which he comprehended under the guidance of the famous doctor and teacher Efrasin in those years.
In this field, his God-chosenness, which manifested itself in the speed with which he found the gift to alleviate people their bodily suffering, was clearly indicated. Remembering the words of the Lord that without Him people are unable to do anything, the young doctor, before treating the patient with natural means, always offered a fervent prayer to the Lord, asking for His help, and was always heard. And today, when we pray to Saint Panteleimon for recovery, we first of all hope for his intercession for us before the Throne of the Most High.
The constant success with which Pantoleon healed a variety of ailments brought him fame, which soon spread throughout the country. Having learned about the amazing art of a young doctor, the then reigning emperor Maximian wished to see him in his entourage and offered to take a vacant place as a court physician, which opened up the most attractive prospects for the young man. However, the Lord drew him a different path in life.
Instructions of Christian Elders
As evidenced by many historical documents, Emperor Maximian was responsible for the terrible tragedy that erupted in Nicomedia at the end of 303. By his order, 20 thousand townspeople who secretly professed Christianity were captured and burned. Only three elders (priests) managed to escape from the fire: Ermokrat, Ermippe and Yermolai, hiding in the basement of one of the empty houses, but later also acquiring the crown of martyrs.
Through a narrow window cut into the base of the wall, they often saw Pantoleon walking along the street, and once the Lord put a desire in their hearts to introduce him to the true faith. To this end, presbyter Yermolai went out to meet the young man and, inviting him to his refuge, set out the teachings of the Son of God to him, after which he became a frequent guest of the fugitives.
The seed of the Christian faith fell on fertile soil, once cultivated by the mother of Pantoleon, and gave abundant seedlings. Henceforth, the prayers of Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of the sick, gained even greater grace, which sometimes gave him the power to work miracles. It is widely known, for example, when death itself receded before the power of his prayer.
Holy baptism
It so happened that once on a city street Pantoleon witnessed how, in front of the eyes of a mother, a child died from a bite of a echidna, which by that time was still nearby. Approaching a woman who sobbed inconsolably over a body spread on the earth, he began to pray, while making a vow that he would be baptized if the Lord hears it and returns his son to his mother.
And a miracle happened: he did not have time to utter the sacred words to which the elder Ermolai taught him how the child came to life, and the evil echidna tore apart an unknown force in front of those present. Today, offering a prayer to Saint Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of a sick child, believers, recalling that old case, draw in it hope for the mercy of God and the intercession of the Holy Healer before the Heavenly Throne. In fulfillment of the vow given to the Lord, the young man was immediately baptized by the presbyter Yermolaus, who called him Panteleimon and became his constant spiritual mentor.
The power of the sons of love
A very important circumstance is the fact that soon his father Eustorgius became a Christian. The impetus for such an important step was the conversations that his son conducted with him, as well as the miracles that happened through the prayers of St. Panteleimon for the healing and recovery of the sick. Finally, he affirmed his desire to break with paganism after the son, in front of his eyes, restored sight to a blind man from birth. After that, together with his sight, he immediately received baptism from the same presbyter Yermolai and remained a member of the Church of Christ until the end of his life.
Panteleimon is known to have had a tender sonly love for his father since birth, but after their blood ties were strengthened by a community of faith, this feeling intensified many times. As for the mother who died early, her image warmed his heart until the end of his days. It was this love for parents that became the key to the fact that subsequently children's prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of the pope and mother were unusually effective.
Deathless Healer
Circumstances forced Panteleimon to keep secret his belonging to the Christian church persecuted at that time, but this did not prevent him from healing every time, calling for the help of the True God. In his name, he continued to work miracles, the fame of which extended further and further.
It is important to note that Panteleimon did not charge for treatment from the poor and those who were in a difficult financial situation, which is why he entered the history of the church as “unpaid”, that is, healer not requiring bribe (retribution) for his services. He often visited prisoners languishing in a city prison, among whom there were many Christians. He assisted them with special zeal. Through the prayer of the Healer Panteleimon for healing, the wounds of the unfortunate were healed, and they gained new strength.
In the face of the wicked ruler
The success that accompanied the young doctor, and the fame that surrounded his name, caused burning envy in the hearts of other doctors who dreamed of getting into the palace. Wanting to harm Panteleimon, they informed the emperor that his doctor was treating state criminals free of charge, to which then Christians were ranked, and perhaps he himself was one of them. By this they hoped to arouse the anger of the ruler and destroy their more successful rival.
However, Maximian, not wanting to lose such a skilled doctor, gave Panteleimon the opportunity to justify himself and prove the falsity of the accusation, publicly offering sacrifices to pagan idols, but received a categorical refusal. Instead, having uttered a prayer for recovery, the Healer Panteleimon, in front of the eyes of the emperor, returned to life the patient who was near death. Despite the fact that the power of the name of Christ was clearly demonstrated to him, the wicked ruler fell into a rage and ordered the healed to be executed, and the healer should be put into the hands of the executioners. From this began the path, at the end of which the holy Healer Panteleimon was numbered by the Christian Church as a great martyr.
The end of the earthly life of the righteous
In anticipation of the great torment that befell St. Panteleimon, Jesus Christ Himself strengthened him by presenting himself at night in the darkness of the prison cell. He was invisibly present next to him during all the tortures to which his imperial servants subjected. In the life of the great martyr, it is described how, not having achieved renunciation of the true faith, the tormentors threw him to be eaten by lions, but wild animals not only did not harm him, but even licked his wounds, relieving suffering. Then, at the command of the emperor, the pious elders were seized and executed, turning the courageous healer to the true faith.
In impotent rage, Emperor Maximian ordered the hated doctor to be tied to an olive tree and cut off his head. When the servants obeyed his command, a miracle happened: the sword, which fell on his neck, suddenly softened like wax falling into the flames of a cross-section, and did not cause the slightest harm. Seeing this, many present believed in Christ. Let us note in passing that among the prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for recovery, there is one in which, mentioning this episode, they ask the saint to make the disease weaken and lose strength, like the sword that once fell on his neck.
The warriors, astounded by what they saw, refused to obey the order of the emperor, but the holy great martyr ordered them to continue the execution, as he wished to suffer for the glory of God. When, finally, his head fell to the ground, then, according to eyewitnesses, milk did not flow from the wound, but milk. After a vain attempt by the servants of Maximian to burn the body at the stake, which remained intact, it was secretly buried by Christians.
Posthumous veneration of the holy great martyr
Over time, the imperishable relics of the sufferer spread throughout the Christian world, and the prayer to St. Panteleimon for healing and recovery took a strong place among other liturgical texts. His honest head is still kept on Mount Athos, in the Russian Panteleimon Monastery, founded at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Pilgrims from many countries flock to bow to this greatest shrine. Most of them suffer from various diseases and offer prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for recovery. They ask themselves and their loved ones for his help and patronage.
In Russia, universal veneration of the holy Healer Panteleimon was established at the beginning of the XII century. It is known, for example, that the son of St. Mstislav the Great - Prince Izyaslav - ordered to place his image on his battle helmet. It is believed that this is what saved his life during the battle with the Pechenegs in 1151.
In addition, it has long been a tradition to consider the great martyr of Nicomedia to be the patron saint of soldiers, since they, receiving wounds like no other, need the prayers of St. Panteleimon the Healer for recovery. By the way, the first name of the saint - Pantoleon - is translated as “Leo in everything”, which unwittingly suggests the connection of the one who bears it with the army.
At the same time, the Christian name Panteleon, meaning "all-merciful," is the best match for the saint's occupation during the days of his earthly life, since medicine is rightfully considered the most humane of professions. In this regard, in the Catholic Church, the healer Panteleon is considered the patron saint of doctors.
Celebrations on St. Athos
In the Orthodox tradition, it has become the norm to invoke the name of the holy great martyr during the sacrament of unholy - a sacred rite performed on people suffering from severe bodily and mental illnesses, as well as during prayer for the weak and the blessing of water. Every year on July 27 in all the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr is celebrated, while special celebrations take place on Mount Athos in the monastery bearing his name. Preparation for them begins 8 days before the established date. Many pilgrims come to the monastery to kneel before his miraculous image and ask for help lying on the bed of the disease.
Prayers to Panteleimon the Healer about the recovery of the child these days are especially frequent, because, as mentioned above, it was the resurrection of the lad, bitten by the cattle, that prompted him to receive holy baptism. They pour a limitless stream of parental feelings and hope for the mercy of the holy saint, who stands at the throne of the Most High and intercedes for all the afflicted. The text of one of Panteleimon’s prayers for the recovery of the child is presented in our article.
For many centuries, Orthodox iconography has developed a tradition of portraying St. Panteleimon as a curly beardless young man, dressed in a brown or red cloak, from under which a blue shirt with a golden mantle is visible. In his left hand he holds the traditional affiliation of the healer: a box with potions, shaped like a casket. Icon painters put a cross in his right hand, which, as you know, is a symbol of martyrdom and self-sacrifice.