Saint Níphon of Constantia
Cosmas
and Damian were unmercenaries and miracle-workers. They were brothers both in
the flesh and in the spirit, born somewhere in Asia Minor of a pagan father and
a Christian mother. After their father's death, their mother Theodotia devoted
all her time and effort to educating her sons and raising them as true
Christians. God helped her, and her sons matured as sweet fruit and luminaries
of the world. They were learned in the art of medicine and ministered to the
sick without payment, not so much with medicine as by the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. They were called 'unmercenary physicians,' that is, unpaid
physicians, for they healed freely and thus fulfilled the commandment of
Christ: Freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). So careful were
they in healing men free of charge that Cosmas became very angry with his
brother Damian because he accepted three eggs from a woman, Palladia, and
ordered that he not be buried alongside his brother Damian after his death. In
fact, St. Damian did not accept these three eggs as a reward for healing the
ailing Palladia, but rather because she adjured him in the name of the
Most-holy Trinity to accept these three eggs. Nevertheless, after their death
in the town of Fereman, they were buried together according to a revelation
from God. The holy brothers were great miracle-workers both during their life
and after their death. A snake crawled through the mouth and into the stomach
of a certain farm laborer during his sleep, and the unfortunate man would have
died in the greatest pain had he not, in the last moment, invoked the help of
Saints Cosmas and Damian. Thus, the Lord glorified forever the miracle-working
of those who glorified Him on earth by their faith, purity and mercy.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW
10:1, 5-8
KJV
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
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