Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Plaque,
Budapest. Hungary.
Szent Kozma és Damján Plaque.
Budapest, district V, Hercegprímás utca.
Photo: 7 May 2015.
Source: Own work.
Author: Andrijko Z.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Saint Cosmas and Saint Damien.
Feast Day 27 September.
Martyrdom.
The Supreme Witness Of Our Faith.
Available on YouTube
Text from “The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Volume 14.
Time After Pentecost.
Book V.
“Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: For The Most High hath created him. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the King.
“The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised. The Most High hath created medicines out of the Earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
“Was not bitter water made sweet with wood ? The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and The Most High hath given knowledge to men, that He may be honoured in His wonders.
English: Saints Cosmas and Damian; miniature
from the Grandes Heures of Anne of Brittany.
Français: Saint Côme et saint Damien, miniature
extraite des Grandes Heures d'Anne de Bretagne.
Deutsch: Die heiligen Brüder Cosmas und Damian,
Miniatur aus dem Stundenbuch der Anne de Bretagne.
Artist: Jean Bourdichon (1457–1521).
Date: Circa 1503 - 1508.
Collection: Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Source: This file comes from Gallica Digital Library
and is available under the digital ID ark:/12148/btv1b52500984v/f355.item
(Wikipedia)
“By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.
“For The Peace of God is over the face of the Earth. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but Pray to The Lord, and He shall heal thee. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.
“Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician. For The Lord created him: And let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands: And they shall beseech The Lord, that He would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation”. [Editor: Ecclus. xxxviii. 1-14,]
Artist: Donatello (1386–1466).
Date: Between 1434 and 1443.
Collection: Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Book Source:
Rolf C. Wirtz, Donatello,
Könemann, Colonia 1998.
(Wikimedia Commons)
These words of the Wise Man are appropriate for this Feast. The Church obeying the inspired injunction, honours the medical profession in the persons of Cosmas and Damian, who not only, like many others, sanctified themselves in that career; but, far beyond all others, demonstrated to the World how grand a part the physician may play in Christian society.
Cosmas and Damian had been Christians from their childhood. The study of Hippocrates and Galen developed their love of God, Whose invisible perfections they admired reflected in the magnificence of creation, and especially in the human body, His Palace and His Temple.
To them, science was a Hymn of Praise to their Creator, and the exercise of their art a sacred ministry; they served God in His suffering members, and watched over His human sanctuary, to preserve it from injury or to repair its ruins.
English:
Feast of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian.
Riace, Italy.
Italiano:
Festa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano.
Riace, Italia.
Date: 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Marcuscalabresus
(Wikimedia Commons)
Such a life of Religious Charity was fittingly crowned by the perfect sacrifice of Martyrdom.
East and West vied with each other in paying homage to the “Anargyres” [Editor: Without Fees], as our Saints were called on account of their receiving no fees for their services. Numerous Churches were Dedicated to them.
The Emperor Justinian embellished and fortified the obscure Town of Cyrus out of reverence for their sacred Relics there preserved; and about the same time, Pope Felix IV built a Church in their honour in the Roman Forum, thus substituting the memory of the twin Martyrs for that of the less happy brothers Romulus and Remus.
Statues of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian
are carried by Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Society members on the annual Feast Day.
Photo: September 2012.
Source:
Cambridge Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Author: Sscdfst
(Wikimedia Commons)
Not long before this, Saint Benedict had Dedicated to Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian his first Monastery at Subiaco, now known as Saint Scholastica’s.
But Rome rendered the highest of all honours to the holy Arabian brethren, by placing their names, in preference to so many thousands of her own heroes, in the Solemn Litanies and on the Sacred Dyptichs (Diptichs) of The Mass.
In The Middle Ages, the physicians and surgeons banded together into confraternities, whose object was the sanctification of the members by Common Prayer, Charity towards the destitute, and the accomplishment of all the duties of their important vocation for the greater glory of God and the greater good of suffering humanity.
Catholic Church of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, Rábakovácsi, Meggyeskovácsi, Hungary.
Photo: 15 March 2021.
Source: Own work.
Author: Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Society of Saints Luke, Cosmas, and Damian, has now undertaken in France the renewal of these happy traditions. [Editor: Readers should note that these words were written circa 1870.]
The remainder of this Text can be read in full at
“The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Volume 14.
Time After Pentecost.
Book V.
Time After Pentecost.
Book V.
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