JULY 27

Day 27: Saint Panteleon or Assia.

This righteous man was from Nicomedia City, a child of a noble pagan man. His Christian mother had died while the boy was still little. Panteleon studied medicine and exceeded in it. He then got to know Armolaoos, a holy priest, who told him that his mother was a Christian and that he is a pagan after his father. Armolaoos taught Asia about the Christian faith, showing him how the followers of Christ become physicians of souls, guiding them to know the truth, something that the physical physicians cannot do. This deeply touched Panteleon’s heart, who got baptized and got his father to belief in Christ as well, as he healed a blind man in his presence. His father then destroyed his idols, and died, leaving behind everything he owned to his son. Our saint though, set his slaves free, and sold all his properties and distributed its money to the poor. He treated the poor people for free, and converted sinners to Christ through his prayers, consequently, people came to him in crowds; which made other physicians envy him, and they accused him before king Maximilian; who sent after him to come to Nicomedia, and there as Panteleon stood firm in his faith in Christ, the king ordered him to be hanged and burned with torches. Jesus appeared to him, and put down the fire, encouraging him. The king then asked him: “in what power you perform miracles?” and the saint answered: “in the power of Jesus Christ the true God. And if you have doubts, sent after the priests of your idols and after a sick person, and let them pray to their gods to heal him; and I will pray to Jesus Christ. Then the god, who heals the sick person, proves to be the true one.” A paralytic was brought in. The priests of the pagan gods offered their sacrifices and went on praying, but there was no response. Then saint Asia prayed over the paralytic, and took him by his hand, telling him: “in the name of Jesus Christ, stand up.” The paralytic did at once and walked, and all the present people were amazed, and many among them came to believe in Jesus Christ. However the physicians, pagan priests filled with hatred toward Asia, told the king that: “if you do not kill this apostate [meaning Asia], our religion will be destroyed and so our temples and idols. Thus, the king ordered Asia to be laid down on a bed of nails, which torn his flesh, while he was patiently praising the Lord. Then, they plunged him in a big pot filled with hot liquid plumb, and God saved him from all of these, and the plumb got solid. Then, they throw him to the beasts, which he petted like gentle sheep. Finally the king ordered his beheading, and thus saint Panteleon (Assia) received the crown of glorious martyrdom in the year 303. May his prayers be with us. Amen.