September 26

Cosma and Damian (d. ca. 303) martyrs

At the beginning of the fourth century, the doctors Cosma and Damian, who are known in the East as the holy "anagiri," or "unmercenaries," were martyred in Palestine.
According to tradition, they were Arabian natives and practiced the medical profession near Ege, in Cilicia, in a spirit of great charity. They dedicated their entire lives to caring for the ill and accepted no recompense for their work, because they were convinced that disciples of the Lord should not own personal property of any kind.
It was their Christian faith that sustained them in their healing activity, and they insisted upon confessing their faith publicly. For this reason, according to tradition, they fell victim to the emperor Diocletian's persecution and were decapitated in 303.
Later, the Christian emperor Justinian made the cult of these martyrs popular throughout the Christian world, and doctors worldwide took Cosma and Damian as their patron saints.
They were the last saints whose names were added to the Roman Canon. Today's date commemorates the dedication of the sixth-century basilica in the Roman Forum that bears their name.

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BIBLICAL READINGS

THE CHURCHES REMEMBER...

ANGLICANS:
Wilson Carlile (d. 1942), founder of the «Church Army»

WESTERN CATHOLICS:
Cosma and Damian, martyrs (Roman and Ambrosian calendars)
Eusebius of Vercelli (1371), bishop (Spanish-Mozarabic calendar)

COPTS AND ETHIOPIANS (16 tut/maskaram):
Dedication of the church of Anastasis at Jerusalem (335)

LUTHERANS:
Antonius Herreztcelo (d. 1559) and Leonor de Cisnere (d. 1568), martyrs in Spain

MARONITES:
John the Beloved, apostle

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND GREEK CATHOLICS:
The passing of John, the holy and glorious apostle and theologian

OLD CATHOLICS:
Cosma and Damian, martyrs