Santi Cosma e Damiano
Cosmas and Damian: the moneyless medical saints
The story of brothers Cosmas and Damian is characterized by their work as free medical healers. This attitude earned them the nickname "anàrgiri" (moneyless) and led to the conversion of many people to the Christian faith. The historical sources available to us are diverse, but what we know for sure is that they were originally from Arabia and that their family was Christian.
Their training and the beginning of their medical activity
After learning the medical art in the Roman province of Syria, the two brothers began practicing their profession in the port city of Laiazzo in Cilicia. Their gratitude towards others was total, and this resulted in their patients receiving their medical services completely free of charge.
The numerous miracles and the fame of the medical saints
The brothers Cosmas and Damian were able to perform miraculous "healings" and "miracles." One of their most celebrated miracles was the replacement of the ulcerated leg of one of their patients with that of a recently deceased Ethiopian. Thanks to these types of actions, their fame grew to the point where they became patron saints of doctors and pharmacists.
The conversion to Christianity and the practice of free medicine
Despite being born into a Christian family, their conversion occurred later in life. During their medical practices, the two brothers put into practice the admonition of Asclepius, which was to give care for free, out of love for others. Even one of their most famous patients, a peasant woman named Palladia who had been miraculously healed, felt obligated to reward the two brothers with three eggs. However, Cosmas was so disappointed that he expressed the desire to be buried far away from his brother.
Their martyrdom and the legacy they left behind
During the persecution of Christians promoted by the emperor Diocletian, the brothers were arrested by the prefect of Cilicia, Lysias, and suffered a fierce martyrdom. They have been the subject of numerous stories where their resistance to torture and miracles that they supposedly performed in order to preserve their faith are extensively narrated. Their legacy represents one of the most important aspects of medicine, as they demonstrated that medical work can be a true vocation in the service of those in need.
