Incommunion

Saints Cosmas and Damian: Holy Unmercenaries, martyrs at Rome (284)

Saints called unmercenaries are physicians who offered their healing services while refusing any payment and who, since their repose, continue to heal by their prayers those who call on them in faith.

There are three pairs of unmercenary physicians named Cosmas and Damian. The martyrs associated with Rome, shown with Peter and Paul in the mosaic icon on the cover, were twin

brothers who gave their money to the poor, setting aside only enough for themselves to devote their lives to the service of Christ in their neighbor.

According to one account, they were born in Arabia and lived as adults in Syria before coming to Rome. Raised by devout Christian parents, they led chaste lives and were granted by God the gift of healing the sick. By their generosity and kindness to all, the brothers converted many to Christ. The brothers told the sick, "It is not by our own power that we treat you, but by the power of Christ, the true God. Believe in Him and be healed."

So strict were they in their determination not to accept any payment that, according to a legend, one brother refused for a time to speak to the other because the brother had accepted an apple.

Their life of service and their influence on the people around them led many into the Church, but also attracted the attention of the Roman authorities. When soldiers were sent to arrest the brothers, local Christians convinced them to hide for a while until they could arrange their escape. Unable to find the brothers, the soldiers instead apprehended other Christians. Cosmas and Damian then

surrendered to the soldiers, asking them to release those who had been arrested in their place.

The brothers were executed in Rome in 284 during the reign of the emperor Carinus. "We have done evil to no one," they declared to the emperor. "We are not involved with the magic or sorcery of which you accuse us. We treat the infirm by the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we take no payment for rendering aid to the sick, because our Lord commanded His disciples, 'Freely have you received, freely give'."

Summer 2008 issue of In Communion / IC 50