According to the Orthodox doctrine, the Lord gives the saints the grace 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 the recovery of St. Panteleimon the Healer - the famous healer of bodily and mental ailments, who performed his great service during the period of the most cruel persecution against Christians launched by Emperor Maximian at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Finger of God
The reason why the prayer to Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of the patient is heard, subject to deep faith in the omnipotence of God, lies in the very history of his earthly life. Born in 275 into a we althy family living in the city of Nicomedia (the territory of present-day Turkey), from an early age he was introduced to Christian truths, which he comprehended from the words of his mother, who secretly professed faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Important to note: the father of the future saint,Evstorgiy, was a pagan, and at birth he named his son with a characteristic name for this religion - Pantoleon. However, sympathizing with the Christian doctrine of forgiveness and love for neighbors, he did not prevent his wife from instructing her son in the commandments given by the Savior.
The child was still very small when the Lord allowed the death of his mother, which was the result of a severe and painful illness. Perhaps it was this circumstance that first filled the child's heart with compassion for sick people and was the Pointing Finger of God, which determined his entire future life path. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for the extraordinary grace of our prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for recovery lies in the providential role of the Almighty.
Happy start to medical practice
Left an orphan, the lad Pantoleon was sent by his father to a pagan school, which was quite in line with the custom of those years when polytheism was the official state religion and had not yet given way to Christianity. Having shown extraordinary abilities and having completed a general education course, the young man began studying medicine, the secrets of which he comprehended under the guidance of the most famous doctor and teacher of those years, Efrasin.
In this field, his God's chosenness was clearly indicated, manifested in the speed with which he acquired the gift of relieving people of their bodily suffering. Remembering the words of the Lord that without Him people are not able to do anything, the young doctor, before treating the patient with natural remedies, always ex altedfervent prayer to the Lord, asking for His help, and was always heard. And today, while praying 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 the young doctor, the then-ruling emperor Maximian wished to see him in his environment and offered to take the vacant position of the court physician, which opened up the most tempting prospects for the young man. However, the Lord drew a different path for him in life.
Instructions of Christian elders
As evidenced by many historical documents, Emperor Maximian was the culprit of the terrible tragedy that broke out in Nicomedia at the end of 303. On his orders, 20,000 citizens who secretly professed Christianity were seized and burned. Then only three presbyters (priests) managed to escape from the fire: Hermocrates, Hermipp and Yermolai, who were hiding in the basement of one of the empty houses, but later also acquired the crown of martyrs.
Through a narrow window cut through at the base of the wall, they often saw Pantoleon passing along the street, and one day the Lord put in their hearts the desire to accustom him to the true faith. To this end, presbyter Yermolai went out to meet the young man and, inviting him to his refuge, expounded to him the teachings of the Son of God, after which he became a frequent guest of the fugitives.
The seed of the Christian faith fell on fertile soil, cultivated oncethe mother of Pantoleon, and gave abundant shoots. From now on, 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. Widely known, for example, is the case when death itself retreated before the power of his prayer.
Receive holy baptism
It so happened that one day on the city street Pantoleon witnessed how, in front of his mother, a child died from the bite of an echidna, which by that time was still nearby. Approaching the woman, who was weeping inconsolably over her body lying on the ground, he began to pray, while making a vow that he would be baptized if the Lord heard him and returned his son to his mother.
And a miracle happened: before he had time to utter the sacred words that presbyter Yermolai had taught him, the child came to life, and an unknown force tore the evil viper in front of those present. Today, offering up a prayer to St. Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of a sick child, believers, remembering that long-standing case, draw from him hope for the mercy of God and the intercession of the holy Healer before the Heavenly Throne. In fulfillment of a vow given to the Lord, the young man was immediately baptized by presbyter Yermolai, who named him Panteleimon and became his constant spiritual mentor.
The power of sons of love
A very important circumstance is the fact that soon his father Evstorgiy also became a Christian. The impetus for taking such an important step was the conversations that the son had with him, as well as the miracles that happened through the prayers of the saint. Panteleimon about the healing and recovery of the sick. Finally, he established himself in the desire to break with paganism after his son, in front of his eyes, restored sight to a man blind from birth. After that, together with the man who received his sight, he was immediately baptized by the same presbyter Yermolai and remained a member of Christ's church until the end of his life.
It is known that Panteleimon from birth had a tender son's love for his father, but after their blood ties were strengthened by a common faith, this feeling intensified many times over. 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 guarantee that later children's prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of dad and mom were unusually effective.
The Merciless Healer
Circumstances forced Panteleimon to keep secret his affiliation to the Christian church persecuted at that time, but this did not prevent him from performing healings every time, calling for help from 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 found themselves in a difficult financial situation, which is why he went down in the history of the church as a "gratuitous", that is, a healer who does not require bribes (retribution) for his services. He often visited the prisoners languishing in the city prison, among whom were many Christians. He helped them with special zeal. Through the prayer of the Healer Panteleimon for the recovery of the woundthe unfortunate were dragged on, 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. Wishing to harm Panteleimon, they reported to the emperor that his doctor was treating state criminals free of charge, to which Christians were then ranked, and perhaps he himself belongs to their number. By doing this, they hoped to provoke the wrath of the ruler and destroy their more successful rival.
However, Maximian, not wanting to lose such a skilled healer, gave Panteleimon the opportunity to justify himself and prove the falsity of the accusation by publicly sacrificing to pagan idols, but received a categorical refusal. Instead, having said a prayer for recovery, the Healer Panteleimon, before the eyes of the emperor, brought back 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 anger and ordered the healed to be executed, and the healer himself to be handed over to the executioners. From this began the path, at the end of which the Holy Healer Panteleimon was ranked by the Christian Church as a great martyr.
The end of the earthly life of a righteous man
On the eve of the great torment that befell St. Panteleimon, Jesus Christ Himself strengthened him, appearing 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 him. In lifeThe great martyr is described as having failed to renounce 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, alleviating suffering. At the same time, by order of the emperor, pious presbyters were seized and executed, who converted 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 carried out his command, a miracle happened: the sword that fell on his neck suddenly softened like wax that fell into the flames of the battle, and did not cause the slightest harm. Seeing this, many who were present believed in Christ. We 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 its strength, like the sword that once fell on his neck.
The soldiers, amazed by what they saw, refused to carry out the order of the emperor, but the holy great martyr ordered them to continue the execution, as he wants to suffer for the glory of God. When, finally, his head fell to the ground, then, according to eyewitnesses, not blood, but milk flowed from the wound. After a futile attempt by Maximian's servants to burn the undamaged body at the stake, it was secretly buried by the 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 firm 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 pray to Panteleimon the Healer for recovery. For themselves and their loved ones, they ask for his help and patronage.
In Russia, the 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 Saint 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, from ancient times it has been a tradition to consider the Great Martyr of Nicomedia as the patron saint of warriors, since they, receiving wounds, like no other, need the prayers of St. Panteleimon the Healer about recovery. By the way, the first name of the saint - Pantoleon - is translated as "The Lion in everything", which involuntarily suggests a connection between the one who wears it and the army.
At the same time, the Christian name Panteleon, meaning "all-merciful", perfectly matches the occupation of the saint in 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 call on the name of the holy great martyr during the sacrament of the consecration of the unction -a sacred rite performed over people suffering from severe bodily and mental ailments, as well as when praying for the weak and blessing water. Every year on July 27, in all parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, the day of memory of the holy great martyr is celebrated, while special celebrations take place on Mount Athos in the monastery that bears his name. Preparation for them begins 8 days before the due date. Many pilgrims come to the monastery to kneel before his miraculous image and ask for help for those lying on the bed of illness.
Prayers to Panteleimon the Healer for the recovery of the child sound especially often these days, because, as mentioned above, it was the resurrection of the boy bitten by a viper that prompted him to accept holy baptism. They pour out an endless 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 those who suffer. The text of one of the prayers to Panteleimon for the recovery of the child is presented in our article.
For many centuries, Orthodox iconography has developed a tradition of depicting St. Panteleimon as a curly, beardless young man dressed in a brown or red cloak, from under which a blue shirt with a golden shoulder is visible. In his left hand, he holds the healer's traditional accessory: a box of potions, shaped like a casket. In his right hand, icon painters put a cross, which, as you know, is a symbol of martyrdom and self-sacrifice.
