Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon

Born in third century Nicomedia to a wealthy pagan father and a Christian mother, Panteleimon studied medicine and then learned the True Faith from the priest Hermolaus. He healed the sick through prayer and brought many to baptism. When Panteleimon miraculously gave sight to a blind man by invoking the Name of Christ, his own father witnessed this and converted to the Faith. After inheriting his family's riches, the saint distributed his wealth to the sick and the poor. But envious colleagues reported the healer to the government. Brought to trial, Panteleimon boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ and healed a paralytic in front of the emperor, yet still he was condemned to death. After a series of extreme tortures failed to harm him and only convinced his executioners of the awesome power of Christ, Panteleimon prayed for God to forgive his persecutors. Deep in prayer, Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon commended his spirit to God and then was beheaded and joined Christ in the year 305.