Life and Canon
Saints Cosmas and Damian were natives of Asia Minor. Their father, a pagan, died while they were still quite small children. Their mother, Theodotia, raised the brothers in Christian piety. The example of their mother and the reading of holy books preserved them in chasteness of life in accord with the command of the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men.
Trained and having become skilled as physicians, they acquired a graced gift of the Holy Spirit – to heal by the power of prayer people’s illnesses both of body and soul, and they treated even animals. With fervent love for both God and neighbour, the brothers went forth into social service. For the maladies which the brothers treated they never took payment, and they strictly observed the command of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Freely have ye received, freely in turn give”. The fame of Saints Cosmas and Damian spread throughout all the surrounding region, and people called them – unmercenaries.
One time the saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman – whom all the doctors had refused to treat because of her seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith Palladia (thus was her name) and through the fervent prayer of the holy brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and she got up from her bed perfectly healthy and giving praise to God. In gratitude for being healed and wanting them to accept a small gift from her, Palladia went quietly to Damian. She presented him with three eggs and said: “Take this small gift in the Name of the Holy Life-Creating Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. Hearing the Name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary one did not dare to refuse.
Cosmas, however, when he learned of what had happened, became very sad. He thought that his brother had broken their strict vow. And soon approached the time when Saint Cosmas was to expire to the Lord. Dying, he gave last instructions that his brother should not be buried alongside him. After a short while Saint Damian also died. All were greatly perplexed where Saint Damian’s grave should be. But through the will of God a miracle occurred: there came to the people a camel, which the saints had treated for its wildness, and it spoke with an human voice saying – that they should not doubt to put Damian alongside Cosmas – because it was not for the reward that Damian accepted the gift from the woman, but on account of the Name of God. The venerable remains of the holy brothers were buried together at Theremanea (Mesopotamia).
Many miracles were worked upon the death of the holy unmercenaries. There lived at Theremanea, nearby the church of Cosmas and Damian, a certain man by the name of Malchos. One day in setting off on a distant journey, and leaving behind his wife all alone for what would be a long time – he prayerfully entrusted her to the heavenly protection of the holy brothers. But the enemy of the race of mankind, having taken hold over one of Malchos’ friends, planned to destroy the woman. A certain while went by, and this man went to her at home and said that Malchos had sent him, – to take her to him. The woman believed him and went along. He led her to a solitary place and wanted to molest and kill her. The woman – seeing that disaster threatened her – called upon God with deep faith. Two fearsome men then appeared, and the cunning man let go of the woman, and took to flight: he fell off a cliff! The men led the woman home. At her own home, bowing to them deeply she asked: “What name do they call you? –my rescuers, to whom I shalt be grateful to the end of my days!” “We are the servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian” – they answered and became invisible. The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone about what had happened with her, and glorifying God she went up with tears to the icon of the holy brothers and offered up prayers of thanks for her deliverance. And from that time the holy brothers were venerated as protectors of the holiness and inviolability of Christian marriage, and as givers of harmony to conjugal life. And from ancient times their veneration spread also to Russia.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
The Canon of the unmercenaries, the acrostic whereof is: “With hymns I honour the wise unmercenaries”, the composition of John of Damascus, in Tone I
Ode I, Irmos: O ye people, let us all chant a hymn of victory unto Him Who delivered Israel from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh, and led them dry-shod in the depths of the sea, for He hath been glorified.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Illumined by the grace of the ruling Trinity, the two wondrous and honoured unmercenaries grant healing unto all who approach with faith, ever pouring it forth.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Taught the mysteries by life-bearing discourse, shining forth like beacons in the world with the fervour of faith, ye easily drive away the darkness of suffering, O most blessed ones.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Submitting to the law of the Saviour, O most glorious ones, ye rejected the enjoyment of pleasures; and, resplendent most radiantly with virtuous souls, ye achieved preëminence in the world, O right wondrous ones.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The all-divine Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, and Who made His abode within thy womb, O Mother of God, ineffably clothed Himself wholly in man. To Him do we chant, for He hath been glorified.
Ode III, Irmos: Establish me, O Christ, upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, and illumine me with the light of Thy countenance, for there is none as holy as Thee, Who lovest mankind.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
As is meet, let us all hymn the well-springs of healings, the streams of divine gifts, the most splendid receptacles of the immaterial Light.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
As benefactors curing sufferings and pangs of body and soul, O most honoured ones, ye heal those who have recourse to you now with fervour.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Adorned with the fruits of the virtues, ye manifestly pruned away every corrupting pleasure of life, looking unceasingly toward the beauty of God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who before was invisible appeared in our form, O Theotokos, when He united His Godhead to the flesh in thine all-holy womb, O Bride of God.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn, Tone VIII: Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Beautifully drawing forth streams of miracles from your deep wellspring, with mystical showers ye drive away the dark passions, and grant healings to ailing men. Wherefore, having received the gladness of health through you, O all-glorious ones, we cry out, amazed: O God-bearing unmercenaries, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offences unto those who celebrate your holy memory with love. (Twice)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: As the most immaculate Bride of the Creator, as the Mother of the Deliverer, who knewest not man, as the receptacle of the Comforter, O all-hymned one, haste thou and deliver me —who am the vile habitation of iniquity and am become in mind the plaything of the demons — from their malice, and make me the splendid abode of the virtues. O luminous and incorrupt one, drive away the clouds of the passions and vouchsafe through thy supplications that I may partake of the never-waning light of the Most High.
Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and, bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee; but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, abyss and inexhaustible wellspring of mercy, have pity, and grant remission of offences unto those who with faith hymn Thy divine sufferings!”
Ode IV, Irmos: I have considered Thy dispensation, O Almighty One, and with fear have I glorified Thee, O Saviour.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Manifestly ascending to divine love, O godly ones, ye acquired neither the lustre of gold nor silver.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Resplendent with divine miracles, the unmercenaries do good unto all, bestowing grace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Stretching forth your healing hands, ye showed yourselves to be wise physicians of the pain of sufferings.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let those who do not confess thee to be the Theotokos now be smitten in the face, O all-pure Mistress.
Ode V, Irmos: Waking at dawn out of the night, we chant to Thee, O Christ, Who art consubstantial with the Father and art the Saviour of our souls: Grant peace to the world, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
As torrents poured forth by God, O glorious unmercenaries, ye pour forth the waters of benefaction upon the faithful, healing infirmities both of body and of soul.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
O honoured unmercenaries, releasing springs of grace, ye impart health unto all who with faith and love now have recourse to you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The radiant and most wise stars, who have manifestly rendered the earth celestial, unceasingly illumine us with the likeness of the splendour of the angels.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having conceived the Lord and Saviour of the world, Who with the Father is equally without beginning, and given birth to Him, O Virgin Mother, thou hast shown thyself to be more exalted than all things.
Ode VI, Irmos: Thou didst save the prophet from the sea monster, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Lead me up from the abyss of transgressions, I pray.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Let us fervently honour the godly Cosmas and Damian, the saving healers, the divinely wise benefactors.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Having preserved their chastity, the godly Cosmas and Damian rejoice with Christ, adorned with understanding.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Having lived in oneness of mind and fasted in oneness of soul, together ye have been given to us to grant us healings.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-pure one, thou gavest birth in the flesh to the unapproachable Light Who illumineth the whole world with rays of divinity.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “The steadfast…”: Having received the grace of healings, ye extend health to those in need, O all-glorious physicians and wonder-workers. By your visitation cast down the audacity of the enemy, healing the world with miracles.
Ikos: The discourse of the wise physicians surpasseth all reason and wisdom and imparteth understanding to all; for, having received the grace of the Most High, they invisibly grant health to all. Wherefore, even unto me hath grace been given to sing of how the God-bearing favourites and ministers of Christ bestow a multitude of healings; for they deliver all from sickness, healing the world with miracles.
Ode VII, Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
In divine wisdom ye were shown to belong wholly to God, in that ye both contain God; for for God’s sake ye abandoned the world, following divinely in the steps of the Saviour, O most glorious ones, honouring the God of our fathers.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
O most excellent physicians, with mystical handiwork ye supernaturally heal all the wounds of infirmities, drawing forth saving cures from the divine treasuries and hymning our all-glorious God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
With the crown and radiant purple robe of Thy kingdom, O Christ Master, Thou hast divinely adorned those who loved exceedingly the unapproachable beauty of Thy comeliness, and hast shown them to be universal benefactors of the faithful.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
When the Orient appeared on earth from on high, O all-pure one, thou wast shown to be the most magnificent and all-radiant gate, illumining the world with beams of purity and ever sending forth rays of miracles upon the faithful.
Ode VIII, Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Having died to the beauties of this world and cut off the sickness of avarice, O wise ones, ye have been called unmercenary by all who cry out: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Ye have most manifestly become partakers of everlasting life; for ye forsook all the beauties of corruptible life, crying together: Bless the Lord, all ye works! Hymn and supremely exalt Him for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
O Master Christ, through the supplications of the unmercenaries deliver us all from grievous ailments, and ever vouchsafe that we may cry to thee together: Bless the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoicing, and strengthened by grace, and delivered by thy birth-giving, O pure Virgin Mother, we cry out unceasingly: Bless the Lord, all ye works! Hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Thee, the Mother of God, the radiant lamp, the all-wondrous glory more exalted than all creatures, do we magnify with hymns.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
With hymns we unceasingly bless the two wise ones who shine forth the radiance of noetic Light and impart enlightenment unto all.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
Creating the strength of spiritual health for the faithful, as saviours ye also cure the bodily sufferings presented to you; wherefore, ye are ever hymned.
Holy unmercenary healers, Cosmas and Damian, pray to God for us.
The beacons of divine radiance, who now without ceasing impart light, noetically illumine the heaven of the honoured Church with an outpouring of effulgence.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The two praised ones divinely called by the worshipful Trinity pour forth gifts of healing upon all who ask and bless them with love.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With hymns we magnify thee as the Theotokos: the cloud of the Light, the holy ark, the most radiant portal of the noetic Sun.
Troparion, Tone VIII: O holy unmercenaries and wonder-workers Cosmas and Damian, visit ye our infirmities: Freely ye have received, freely give unto us!