“Saint Damian” redirects here. For Saint Damien of many paintings and illuminations.[4][5] Molokai, see .

According to Christian traditions, Saints Cosmas and 2 Veneration Damian (Greek: Κοσμάς και Δαμιανός) (also writ- ten Kosmas and Damianos) (died ca. 287) were twin brothers, physicians, and early Christian born in Cilicia, part of today’s Turkey. They practiced their profession in the seaport of Aegeae, then in the Roman province of Syria. Accepting no payment for their ser- vices led to them being named "Ανάργυροι" (Holy Un- mercenaries); it has been said that, by this, they attracted many to the Christian faith.[3]

1 Lives

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, by Gerard Seghers (Antwerp, Cosmas and Damian miraculously transplant the black leg of the 1591-1651). Oil on canvas. (Private collection, United States). Ethiopian onto the white body of the patient.

According to Christian traditions, during the persecution As early as the 4th century, churches dedicated to the under , Cosmas and Damian were arrested by twin saints were established at , in and order of the of Cilicia, one Lysias who is other- in Mesopotamia. records the division of their wise unknown, who ordered them under torture to recant. reputed relics. Their relics, deemed miraculous, were However, according to legend they stayed true to their buried in the city of Cyrrus in Syria. Churches were built faith, enduring being hung on a cross, stoned and shot by in their honor by Archbishop Proclus and by Emperor arrows and finally suffered execution by beheading. An- (527–565), who sumptuously restored the city thimus, Leontius and Euprepius, their younger brothers, of Cyrus and dedicated it to the twins, but brought their who were inseparable from them throughout life, shared purported relics to ; there, following his in their martyrdom. cure, ascribed to the intercession of Cosmas and Damian, Their most famous miraculous exploit was the grafting Justinian, in gratitude also built and adorned their church of a leg from a recently deceased Ethiopian to replace a at Constantinople, and it became a celebrated place of pil- patient’s ulcered or cancerous leg, and was the subject of grimage. At Pope Felix IV (526–530) rededicated

1 2 2 VENERATION

ered in 1334 by Burchard Grelle, Archbishop of Bre- men. He “personally 'miraculously' retrieved the relics of the holy physicians Cosmas and Damian, which were al- legedly immured and forgotten in the choir of the Cathedral.[6] In celebration of the retrieval Archbishop and Chapter arranged a feast at Pentecost 1335, when the relics were translated from the wall to a more dignified place.[7] Grelle claimed the relics were those Archbishop Adaldag brought from Rome in 965. The cathedral master-builder Johann Hemeling made a for the relics, which was finished around 1420. The shrine,made from carved oak wood covered with gilt and rolled sil- ver is considered an important mediaeval gold work.[8] In 1649 Bremen’s Chapter, Lutheran by this time, sold the Reliquary (1400/1420) in St. Michael’s Church, con- shrine without the heads to Maximilian I of Bavaria. The taining the alleged skulls of Cosmas and Damian. The convent two heads remained in Bremen and came into the pos- of the in also has two skulls of Saints Cosmas session of the small Roman Catholic community. They and Damian. were shown from 1934 to 1968 in the Church of St. Jo- hann and in 1994 they were buried in the crypt.[9] The shrine is now shown in the Jesuit church of St Michael in Munich. At least since 1413 another supposed pair of skulls of the saints has been stored in St Stephens’s Cathe- dral in Vienna. Other relics are claimed by the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in .

The martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian by Fra Angelico (Musée du , ).

The twins are invoked in the in the prayer known as the Communicantes (from the Pope Felix IV presents Sts Cosmas and Damian with the first word of the prayer): “In communion with the he rededicated to them. whole Church, they venerate above all others the mem- ory of the glorious ever-virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Christ, then of blessed Joseph, husband the Library of Peace (Bibliotheca Pacis) as a basilica of of the Virgin, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter in the Forum of Vespasian in and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, their honour. The church is much rebuilt but still famed Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude: Linus, Cletus, for its sixth-century mosaics illustrating the saints. Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence, Chryso- What are said to be their skulls are venerated in the gonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your convent of the Clares in Madrid, where they have been Saints: grant through their merits and prayers that in all since 1581, the gift of Maria, daughter of Emperor things we may be defended by the help of your protec- Charles V. They had previously been removed from tion.” They are also invoked in the , Rome to Bremen in the tenth century, and thence to and in the older form of the , in the . Other skulls said to be theirs were discov- for Thursday in the Third Week of Lent, as the station 3

church for this day is Santi Cosma e Damiano. 3 Eastern Christianity Their feast day in the , which had been on September 27, was moved in 1969 to September 26, because September 27 is the dies natalis (“day of birth” into Heaven) of Saint , now more widely venerated in the Latin Church,[10] but some traditionalist Catholics continue to observe the pre- 1970 calendar. Sts Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems.

Icon of Saints Cosmas and Damian (17th century, Historic Mu- Cosmas and Damian are depicted as supporters of the arms of seum in Sanok, Poland). the guild of barber-surgeons carved into a , 15th century, from the Carmes monastery in Trie-sur-Baïse in southwestern In the , Eastern Catholic . The inscription reads, “Saints Cosmas and Damian pray Churches, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Saints for us”. Cosmas and Damian are venerated as a type of saint known as Unmercenary Physicians (Greek: ἀνάργυροι, In , the twin saints are regarded as protectors of anargyroi, “without money”). This classification of saints children, and September 27 is commemorated, espe- is unique to the Eastern Church and refers to those who cially in , by giving children bags of candy heal purely out of love for God and man, strictly observing with the saints’ effigy printed on them and throughout the command of Jesus: “Freely have you received, freely the entire state of Bahia where Catholics and adepts of give.” («Δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε...» Matthew Candomblé religion offer typical food such as carurú. 10:8) While each of the Unmercenaries have their own The ritual consists of first offering the food to seven chil- feast days, all are commemorated together on the first dren that are no older than seven years old and then hav- Sunday in November, in a feast known as the of ing them feast while sitting on the floor and eating with the Unmercenary Physicians. their hands. Only after all children have finished can the The Orthodox celebrate no less than three different sets guests enjoy the food that is being offered. The Church of saints by the name of Cosmas and Damian, each with of Saints Cosmas and Damian, in Igarassu, their own distinct feast day: is Brazil’s oldest church, built in 1535. In the UK St Damian is the dexter side supporter in the • Saints Cosmas and Damian of Cilicia (Arabia) coat of arms of the British Dental Association. (October 17) Brothers, according to Christian leg- Sts. Cosmas & Damian are venerated every year in end they were beaten and beheaded together with Utica, New York at St. Anthony’s Parish during the an- three other Christians: Leontius, Anthimus, and Eu- nual pilgrimage which takes place on the last weekend tropius. of September (close to the Sept. 27 feast day). There • Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor — are thousands of pilgrims who come to honor the saints. alternately, of Mesopotamia (November 1) Twin Over 80 busloads come from Canada and other destina- sons of Saint Theodota. Died peacefully and were tions. The 2-day festival includes music (La Banda Rosa), buried together at Thereman in Mesopotamia. much Italian food, masses and processions through the streets of East Utica. It is one of the largest festivals hon- • Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome (July 1) oring saints in the northeast USA. Brothers, according to Christian tradition they were 4 5 REFERENCES

martyred outside Rome by a jealous pagan physi- 4.3 France cian during the reign of the (283–284). • Saint Côme-Saint Damien church, Luzarches, Val d'Oise, France

Orthodox of the saints depict them vested as lay- • Saint Côme-Saint Damien church, Paris, France men holding medicine boxes. Often each will also hold a spoon with which to dispense medicine. The handle of • Saint Côme-Saint Damien church, Chamboulive, the spoon is normally shaped like a cross to indicate the France importance of spiritual as well as physical healing, and • that all cures come from God. Saint Côme-Saint Damien church, Serdinya, France In Rochester, Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic, the Greek Orthodox Church is the Holy Anargyroi/Sts. Kos- 4.4 Russia mas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church. • Church of Cosmas and Damian, Novgorod

4.5 Serbia

• Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Ivanjica

5 References

[1] Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κοσμᾶς καὶ Δαμιανός οἱ Ἀνάργυροι καὶ Θαυματουργοί. 1 Νοεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. The Apse of the Church of SS. Cosmas and Damian, Rome, 7th century: Paul and Peter present the martyrs to Christ. [2] Wonderworker and Unmercenary Cosmas of Asia Minor. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[3] Catholic Encyclopedia: “Sts. Cosmas and Damian”

4 Churches [4] Jacobus de Voragine (1275). The GOLDEN LEGEND or LIVES of the SAINTS.

4.1 Croatia [5] Androutsos, G.; Diamantis, A.; Vladimiros, L. (2008). “The first leg transplant for the treatment of a cancer by • Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Lastovo Saints Cosmas and Damian”. Journal of B.U.ON. : offi- cial journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology 13 (2): 297– 304. PMID 18555483. 4.2 England [6] Cf. “Bremer Chronik von Gerhard Rinesberch und Her- bord Schene”, In: Bremen, Hermann Meinert (ed.) on be- In the Church of England, dedications of churches to SS half of the Historische Kommission bei der Bayerischen Cosmas and Damian are very rare: Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bremen: Schünemann, 1968, (Chroniken der deutschen Städte vom 14. bis ins • Blean, Kent, church of St Cosmus [sic] and St 16. Jahrhundert; vol. 37: Die Chroniken der niedersäch- sischen Städte), p. 112,; Regesten der Erzbischöfe von Bre- Damian in the Blean; men, Joseph König and Otto Heinrich May (compilators), Hanover: Selbstverlag der Historischen Kommission, • Challock, Kent; 1971, (Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Hannover, Oldenburg, Braunschweig, Schaumburg- • Keymer, Sussex, St Cosmas and St Damian Church, Lippe und Bremen; vol. 11,2,2), vol. 2, Lfg. 2: 1327– Keymer; 1344, No. 508; Joseph König, “Zur Biographie des Bur- • chard Grelle, Erzbischof von Bremen und der Geschichte Sherrington, Wiltshire, church of St Cosmo [sic] and seines Pontifikats (1327–1344)", In: Stader Jahrbuch; St Damian, in the Benefice of the Upper Wylye Val- vol. 76 (1986), p. 42; Herbert Schwarzwälder, Geschichte ley; der Freien Hansestadt Bremen:5 vols., ext. and impr. ed., Bremen: Ed. Temmen, 1995, vol. 1: Von den Anfängen • Stretford, near Leominster, Herefordshire, church bis zur Franzosenzeit: (1810), p. 70; Alfred Löhr, “Kult no longer in use and in the care of the Churches Con- und Herrschaft, Erzstift und Domkapitel”, In: Der Bre- servation Trust. mer Dom. Baugeschichte, Ausgrabungen, Kunstschätze. 5

Handbuch u. Katalog zur Sonderausstellung vom 17.6. bis • Leslie G. Matthews, “SS. Cosmas and Damian— 30.9.1979 im Bremer Landesmuseum - Focke-Museum - Patron Saints of Medicine and Pharmacy: Their , Karl Heinz Brandt (ed.), Bremen: Bremer Landesmu- Cult in England” in Medical History: notes on the seum, 1979, (Focke-Museum, Bremen. Hefte; No. 49, few English churches dedicated to these saints vielm.: 52), pp. 102seq. and 128 as well as Catalogue No. 31, Urkunden und Siegel des Erzbischofs Burchard Grelle; • Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Bodo Heyne, “Die Arztheiligen Kosmas und Damian und Damian of Asia Minor (November 1) Eastern Or- der Bremer Dom”, In: Hospitium Ecclesiae: Forschungen thodox and synaxarion zur Bremischen Kirchengeschichte; vol. 9 (1975), pp. 7– 21; Johannes Focke, “Die Heiligen Cosmas und Damian • Holy Wonderworking Unmercenary Physicians Cos- und ihr Reliquienschrein im Dom zu Bremen”, In: Bremis- mas and Damian at Rome (July 1) ches Jahrbuch, Bd. 17 (1895), pp. 128–161. • Martyrs and Unmercenaries Cosmas Damian in Cili- [7] “Ostern 1334 hatte Burchard persönlich im Chor des cia (October 17) Bremer Doms die … dort angeblich eingemauerten und vergessenen Reliquien der heiligen Ärzte Cosmas • Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenaries Icon und Damian auf 'wunderbare Weise' wiederaufgefunden. Erzbischof und Kapitel veranstalteten aus diesem An- • Representations of Saints Cosmas and Damian laß zu Pfingsten 1335 ein Fest, bei dem die Reliquien • aus der Mauer an einen würdigeren Platz überführt wur- Saints Cosmas and Damian at the Christian Iconog- den.” Konrad Elmshäuser, “Der werdende Territorial- raphy web site staat der Erzbischöfe von Bremen (1236–1511): I. Die • Erzbischöfe als Landesherren”, In: Geschichte des Landes “Here Follow the Lives of Saints Cosmo and zwischen Elbe und Weser: 3 parts, Hans-Eckhard Dan- Damian” from the Caxton translation of the Golden nenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf Legend of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer • Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Cam- ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, bridge, MA (Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehem. Her- zogtümer Bremen und Verden; No. 7), part II: Mittelalter (1995), pp. 159–189, here p. 177. Original emphasis. Omission not in the original. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2

[8] Konrad Elmshäuser, “Der werdende Territorialstaat der Erzbischöfe von Bremen (1236–1511): I. Die Erzbis- chöfe als Landesherren”, In: Geschichte des Landes zwis- chen Elbe und Weser: 3 parts, Hans-Eckhard Dan- nenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, (Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehem. Her- zogtümer Bremen und Verden; No. 7), Part II: Mitte- lalter (1995), pp. 159–189, here p. 178. ISBN 978-3- 9801919-8-2

[9] (Wilhelm Tacke: St. Johann in Bremen - erine 600jährige Geschichte - von den Bettelbrüdern bis zu den Pröpsten, Bremen 2006, S. 172ff.)

[10] “Calendarium Romanum” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 140

6 Further reading

• Acta sanctorum, 27 Sept, p 432 para 187

7 External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia:Sts. Cosmas and Damia 6 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text

• Saints Cosmas and Damian Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Cosmas_and_Damian?oldid=627961456 Contributors: Panair- jdde, Montrealais, Error, Nikola Smolenski, Tom Peters, Disdero, Wetman, Robbot, Chris 73, Blainster, Varlaam, Kuralyov, Necrothesp, ErikNY, TheObtuseAngleOfDoom, Bender235, Lima, Duk, Man vyi, Polylerus, Splat, Ghirlandajo, Bobrayner, Sandius, FeanorStar7, BillC, Briangotts, Cuchullain, BD2412, Lockley, Bigdottawa, Pammann, Jaraalbe, YurikBot, Anglius, TodorBozhinov, Severa, Pigman, Arouck, Deville, Redgolpe, Mikhail Simkin, Attilios, Hardscarf, SmackBot, Ze miguel, Nina-no, JCCyC, Carl.bunderson, Jmr30, Miquon- ranger03, MalafayaBot, Colonies Chris, Clinkophonist, Mno22, Mathiasrex, PaulGS, Angeldeb82, InfernoXV, 5-HT8, Gustave G., Cy- debot, Thijs!bot, Epbr123, Marek69, Fayenatic london, .anacondabot, Meredyth, TheAllSeeingEye, Waacstats, STBot, Jona Lendering, CommonsDelinker, J.delanoy, ConservativeDC, Skier Dude, Spaceflower, Clariosophic, Lanternix, STBotD, Cosnahang, Mxmsj, Misha- Pan, Cuzkatzimhut, Jeff G., TXiKiBoT, Dickstracke, Rei-bot, Nedrutland, AlleborgoBot, SieBot, StAnselm, Phe-bot, Philly jawn, ClueBot, Kafka Liz, Estirabot, Elizium23, AMC0712, DumZiBoT, MystBot, Addbot, Proofreader77, Leszek Jańczuk, LinkFA-Bot, Numbo3-bot, Lightbot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, 2D, Roltz, AnomieBOT, Baraqa1, Ambrosiaster, Xqbot, Jayarathina, Jordiferrer, Ulf Heinsohn, Iliada, Grou- choBot, Eebkent, Drdpw, Quod erat demonstrandum 3.14159, FrescoBot, I dream of horses, ΙΣΧΣΝΙΚΑ−888, Orenburg1, , Esoglou, EmausBot, John of Reading, Jkadavoor, Giorgi13, Jimmyj78, Smartie2thaMaxXx, ClueBot NG, Smeat75, EuroCarGT, Terp05, Hmains- bot1, CensoredScribe, Jbuc14, Kathlevy, Lueroi123, Michael F 1967, Humpath and Anonymous: 76

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• File:ApseCosmasDamianChrist.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/ApseCosmasDamianChrist.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Beinwunder_Cosmas_und_Damian.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Beinwunder_Cosmas_ und_Damian.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Württembergisches Landesmuseum Stuttgart, Photographed by Andreas Praefcke, 2006 Original artist: ? (dem Meister des Stettener und Schnaiter Altarretabels zugeschrieben) • File:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:CosmasDamianfraangelico.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/CosmasDamianfraangelico.jpg Li- cense: Public domain Contributors: Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here. Original artist: Original uploader was Polylerus at en.wikipedia • File:French_-_Double_Capital_Depicting_Saints_Cosmas_and_Damian_(Guild_of_Barber-Surgeons)_-_Walters_27572.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/French_-_Double_Capital_Depicting_Saints_Cosmas_and_ Damian_%28Guild_of_Barber-Surgeons%29_-_Walters_27572.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Walters Art Museum: Home page Info about artwork Original artist: Anonymous (France) • File:Gerard_Seghers,_Saint_Cosmas_and_Saint_Damian_(17th_century).jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/f/f9/Gerard_Seghers%2C_Saint_Cosmas_and_Saint_Damian_%2817th_century%29.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Uploaded by Dmauricio on 6 February 2010. Original artist: Gerard Seghers • File:Holy_Cosmas_and_holy_Damian_shrine_in_St._Michael_in_Munich.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/d/d0/Holy_Cosmas_and_holy_Damian_shrine_in_St._Michael_in_Munich.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:MHS_ss_Damian_i_Kosma_XVII_w_p.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/MHS_ss_Damian_i_ Kosma_XVII_w_p.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Przykuta Original artist: Przykuta • File:Pope_Felix_presents_church_to_Cosmas_and_Damian.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/ Pope_Felix_presents_church_to_Cosmas_and_Damian.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: ? Contributors: Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist: Tkgd2007

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