Panteleimon the healer. The icon and the manifestation of its healing influence

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

In churches there are images of saints to whom golden jewelry has been donated: rings, earrings. Panteleimon the healer is capable of saving lives or helping seriously ill people. The icon depicts him as a beautiful young man. A brief history of his life, the ability to heal people and help modern believers in prayer - all this will be discussed in the publication.

What kind of life did Saint Panteleimon the healer live?

The icon of this Great Martyr today is the most revered among Russian believers for its amazing ability to heal people. Panteleimon is depicted as a young man with a pen (liar) in one hand and a chest of medicines in the other. But what was his fate?

The great martyr named Pantoleon was born in the northwest of Asia Minor, in the city of Nicomedia. Now this place belongs to Turkey, the city is called Ismid. His mother was a Christian and his father was a pagan. After receiving basic education, the young man learnedhealing abilities of Euphrosynus, who treated the emperor.

By God's will, Pantoleon met the preacher Yermolai, who taught him faith in God. The boy carefully delved into everything cognizable, marveling at the ability of the Savior to heal and resurrect the sick. Once Pantoleon himself was convinced of such a miracle: by turning to Christ he was able to revive a child who had been bitten by a snake. From that moment on, the future Great Martyr was baptized by Yermolai under the name Panteleimon (the correct emphasis on “le”), which in Greek means “all-merciful”, “doctor from God”. Since then, the merciful young man has been asking the Heavenly Forces for help in order to heal the people who turned to him. He helped each of them, leading them to faith. One fine day, Panteleimon helped a blind man who had lost hope of seeing the light. When he regained the ability to see, such an event was one of the greatest miracles.

Once, doctors who did not recognize faith in Christ reported to the emperor on Panteleimon, demanding punishment for his confession of God. When the young healer was brought to Maximilian, he said that he was healing in the name of Jesus, and asked to be given the opportunity to prove it. A paralyzed, weakened man was brought to the palace, tormented by his fate for many years. No matter how hard the pagans tried to put him on his feet, everything was useless. When Panteleimon approached the suffering man and read the prayers, he easily got to his feet and felt great. He gained faith in God and began to praise Jesus Christ, who healed him. However, this course of events did not suit the pagan emperor, who immediately orderedto execute the healed man, and sentenced Panteleimon to severe torture, forcing him to renounce God.

The young man didn't do it. Real miracles happened: all the tools that touched his body became completely harmless, broke, lost their rigidity! They tried to burn the healer with candles, but as soon as they approached him, the flame went out. Then he was thrown into a pack of lions, but they began to lick his feet. Anyway, Maximilian decided to execute the young man by cutting off his head outside the city, under a withered tree.

When the executioners were about to carry out the order, their weapons became soft. They believed in God and asked for forgiveness from Panteleimon. However, the young man ordered them to do what the emperor ordered. When everything happened, the unexpected happened: the blood turned into milk, and the dried olive tree was covered with fruits.

The icon of Panteleimon the healer. Significance in modern life

The image of this good young healer in churches is prayed for by a large number of believers. He is approached by people who have lost hope of saving their loved ones. They ask for help with ailments, illnesses, because Panteleimon devoted his short life to the unfortunate who suffered from an illness. There were many cases when a merciful saint sent his help from Heaven to everyone who sincerely asked him about it. In gratitude, believers leave precious things at the image of the Great Martyr, make donations to the temple. For this reason, Panteleimon the healer - the icon is considered miraculous.

Today, during Baptism, when the sacrament of the Unction and the blessing of water is performed, the prayers turn to this merciful young man. He is also called upon in prayer for sick people. It is customary to celebrate the day of this saint according to the new style on August 9 (according to the old - July 27).

Panteleimon the healer is an icon that carries two meanings

Panteleimon - so they began to call the young man when he became a real healer. In Western countries, he is considered the patron saint of all doctors. However, the name that the young man bore before baptism - Pantoleon, was not forgotten in the Orthodox Church. It translates as "the lion in everything." Therefore, they believe that Panteleimon the healer is the icon of the patron saint of warriors, a formidable saint. There is a close relationship between them: warriors are the most injured, and they need treatment the most.