Hinweise zur Catholic Encyclopedia
Sts. Cosmas and Damian
Early Christian physicians and martyrs whose feast is celebrated on 27
September. They were twins, born in Arabia, and practised the art of healing in
the seaport Ægea, now Ayash (Ajass), on the Gulf of Iskanderun in Cilicia, Asia
Minor, and attained a great reputation. They accepted no pay for their services
and were, therefore, called anargyroi, the silverless
. In this way they
brought many to the Catholic Faith. When the Diocletian persecution began, the
Prefect Lysias had Cosmas and Damian arrested, and ordered them to recant. They
remained constant under torture, in a miraculous manner suffered no injury from
water, fire, air, nor on the cross, and were finally beheaded with the sword.
Their three brothers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius died as martyrs with
them. The execution took place 27 September, probably in the year 287. At a
later date a number of fables grew up about them, connected in part with their
relics. The remains of the martyrs were buried in the city of Cyrus in Syria;
the Emperor Justinian I (527-565) sumptuously restored the city in their honour.
Having been cured of a dangerous illness by the intercession of Cosmas and
Damian, Justinian, in gratitude for their aid, rebuilt and adorned their church
at Constantinople, and it became a celebrated place of pilgrimage. At Rome Pope
Felix IV (526-530) erected a church in their honour, the mosaics of which are
still among the most valuable art remains of the city. The Greek Church
celebrates the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian on 1 July, 17 October, and 1
November, and venerates three pairs of saints of the same name and profession.
Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are
sometimes represented with medical emblems. They are invoked in the Canon of the
Mass and in the Litany of the Saints.
Acta SS., 27 Sept.; SCHLEYER in Kirchenlex.; ALOIS, Das Leben und Wirken d. hl. Cosmas und Damian, Patrone der Aerzte (Vienna, 1876); DEUBNER, Kosmas und Damian (Leipzig, 1907).
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