This sufferer for Christ, the most glorious of martyrs, was born in Nicomedia. His father, a rich and illustrious man, was by faith a pagan, ardently devoted to idolatry; his mother was a Christian who had learnt the holy Faith from her parents and who fervently served Christ. Thus, his father and mother were united bodily but divided spiritually; he offered sacrifices to false gods, while she offered the sacrifice of praise to the true God (Ps 115:17; Heb 13:15). Their child was named Pantoleon, which means in everything a lion; because they thought that he would be like a lion in courage. But later the child was renamed Panteleimon, which means all-merciful, because he healed the sick without fee, gave alms to the poor, and generously distributed his paternal wealth to the needy.
(Read the entire story of this great saint at www.holycross.org/pages/life-holy-great-martyr-healer-panteleimon)
Saturday, July 24 –
