Saints Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born in Arabia in the 3rd century AD who became physicians. They were early Christian martyrs.
Read the full Sts Cosmas and Damian novena on the novena page. You can also learn more about novenas here.
Who Were Saints Cosmas and Damian?
After studying medicine in Syria, they practiced their profession without charging fees, which earned them the title of “Anargyroi” (the unmercenaries or silverless ones). Their free medical service was performed out of Christian charity and as a means to spread their faith.
The brothers treated both humans and animals, and according to Christian tradition, they performed miraculous healings through prayer. Their most famous miracle is the transplantation of a leg from a recently deceased Ethiopian to replace a patient’s diseased limb.
During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were arrested, tortured, and finally beheaded around 287 AD.
Their veneration spread widely throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and numerous churches and medical institutions have been dedicated to them. They are often depicted in art holding medical implements, medicine boxes, or surgical instruments.