SAINT PANTALEON (PANTELEIMON). A SAINT of both the EAST and WEST!
In the West among the late-medieval Fourteen Holy Helpers
In the East as one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers
Feast Day July 27th (August 8th on the Julian calendar). Coptic calendar 19 Epip
PATRON OF – PHYSICIANS, APOTHECARIES, MIDWIVES, LIVESTOCK, LOTTERY,
LOTTERY WINNERS, VICTORIES AND THE SICK
INVOKED AGAINST – HEADACHES, COMSUMPTION, LOCUSTS, WITCHCRAFT, ACCIDENTS,
LONELINESS AND HELPER OF CRYING CHILDEN
ICON DESCRIPTION –
St Panteleimon is pictured as a beardless young man holding a compartmented apothecary (medicine) box sometimes with vials and a long handled spatula or spoon for dispensing medicine.
THE LIFE OF SAINT PANTELEIMON
Panteleimon was the son of a rich pagan in Nicomedia and a Christian mother St Eubula. Although St Eubula desired that he be baptized, she died. As a young man After her death while studying medicine he feel away from Christianity. He studied medicine under the renowned physician Euphrosinos and became the physician to the Emperor Galerius.
The learned bishop St Hermolaus of Nicomedia engaged Pantaleon that Christ was the true Physician! “But, my friend, of what use are all thy acquirements in this art, since they are ignorant of the science of salvation?”
Accepting his renewed faith he invoked the name of Jesus healing a blind man. This miracle was instrumental in converting his father from paganism. Pantaleon openly proclaimed his Christianity provoking the denunciation of his colleagues and during the Diocletian persecution he refused “apostasy” in turn proclaiming Faith in Christ and healing a paralytic.
Pantaleon was tortured - first by burning – the torches were extinguished - then by molten lead in the vat in which Christ appeared with him and the lead became cold – he was thrown in the sea with a large stone around his next and he floated - thrown into a den of wild beasts he blessed them and left remained calm – he was bound on a wheel and the ropes snapped and the wheel broke and the swords bent and his executioners were converted to Christianity!
Pantaleon always prayed for the forgiveness of his torturers – thus he was given the name “Panteleimon” meaning “mercy for all” or “all compassionate.” By the will of God he accepted the crown of martyrdom by beheading out of which came blood and a white milk like substance.
FEASTDAY – JULY 27 (JULIAN CALENDAR AUGUST 9)
WHERE HE IS VENERATED….
GREEK ORTHODOX - St Panteleimon’s relics are in the St Panteleimon Monasteries on Mt Athos, Crete, Cyprus and Macedonia. His head is venerated at the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos. Numerous churches are dedicated to him in Greece and Russia.
ARMENIAN CHURCH have his relics in the Amaras Monastery
CATHOLIC – EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
FRANCE – after the Black Death in the 14th century he became the patron saint of physicians and midwives, His relics are found in the church of St Denis in Paris. His head is venerated in the church at Lyon.
GERMANY – a church dedicated to the saint was built in Cologne was built by the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Theophanu who was married to the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II in 972
ITALY – found in Ravello, Naples, Venice, Rome and many other cities.
Popular in Venice – the saint was given the name to a character in “commedia dell’arte, Pantalone – a wizened old man who wore trousers rather than breeches- called pantaloons (pants).
Most surprisingly St Panteleimon is venerated in Italy as a giver of favourable lottery numbers, victories in competitions and winners in dreams.
PORTUGAL – His relics were brought to “Porto” by Armenian refugees after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453 – today he is a patron of the city.
16"x12"
