Saints Cosmas and Damian
Early Christian physicians and martyrs whose feast is celebrated on 27 September.
From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, “Sts. Cosmas and Damian”
Patronages on this page:
Patronages
According to Catholic tradition, as recorded in the sources cited for each patronage:
Barbers
SS. Cosmas and Damian are the patrons of surgeons and barbers;
Recorded as patron of barbers in:
- Drake, Saints and Their Emblems, 1916, PATRONS OF ARTS, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
- Baring-Gould, The Lives of the Saints, 1897, SS. COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MM.
Doctors
Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems.
Recorded as patron of doctors in:
- Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Sts. Cosmas and Damian
- Drake, Saints and Their Emblems, 1916, PATRONS OF ARTS, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
Family of the Medici
they obtained great fame as patrons of the illustrious family of the Medici, when that family was at the height of its splendour.
Recorded as patron of family of the Medici in:
- Baring-Gould, The Lives of the Saints, 1897, SS. COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MM.
Salamanca
Recorded as patron of Salamanca in:
- Husenbeth, Emblems of Saints, 1882, PATRONS OF COUNTRIES AND CITIES.
Surgeons
Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems.
Recorded as patron of surgeons in:
- Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Sts. Cosmas and Damian
- Baring-Gould, The Lives of the Saints, 1897, SS. COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MM.
Feast day
- September 26 · General Roman Calendar
- September 27 · Traditional date, Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, “Sts. Cosmas and Damian”
They were twins, born in Arabia, and practised the art of healing in the seaport Ægea, now Ayash (Ajass), on the Gulf of Iskanderun in Cilicia, Asia Minor, and attained a great reputation.
They accepted no pay for their services and were, therefore, called anargyroi , "the silverless".
In this way they brought many to the Catholic Faith.
When the Diocletian persecution began, the Prefect Lysias had Cosmas and Damian arrested, and ordered them to recant.
They remained constant under torture, in a miraculous manner suffered no injury from water, fire, air, nor on the cross, and were finally beheaded with the sword.
Their three brothers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius died as martyrs with them.
The execution took place 27 September, probably in the year 287.
Works of art
