07 Works, Today, July 1st, is Sts Cosmas and Damian' day, their story in Paintings #182

Unknown artist

Saints Cosma and Damian, "The Healers"

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

The Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian were born at Rome, brothers by birth, and physicians by profession. Their feast day is July 1st. They are known for their philanthropic medical service.

Unknown artist

Cosmas and Damian consult over a patient

Burgos Cathedral

Brought up by their parents in the rules of piety, they led strict and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the gift of healing the sick. By their generosity and exceptional kindness to all, the brothers converted many to Christ. The brothers told the sick, “It is not by our own power that we treat you, but by the power of Christ, the true God. Believe in Him and be healed.” Since they accepted no payment for their treatment of the infirm, the holy brothers were called “unmercenary physicians.”

Attributed to the Master of Los Balbases

Saints Cosmas and Damian performing a miraculous cure by transplantation of a leg, c 1495

Oil paintings

Wellcome Library 

...there was a man which served devoutly the holy martyrs in that church, who a canker had consumed all his thigh. And as he slept, the holy martyrs Cosmo and Damian, appeared to him their devout servant, bringing with them an instrument and ointment of whom that one said to that other: Where shall we have flesh when we have cut away the rotten flesh to fill the void place? Then that other said to him: There is an Ethiopian that this day is buried in the churchyard of S. Peter ad Vincula, which is yet fresh, let us bear this thither, and take we out of that morian's flesh and fill this place withal. More on this work

I have no further description of this artwork at this Artist

Their life of active service attracting the attention of the Roman authorities. Soldiers were sent after the brothers. Hearing about this, local Christians convinced Sts Cosmas and Damian to hide for a while until they could help them escape. Unable to find the brothers, the soldiers arrested instead other Christians of the area where the saints lived. Sts Cosmas and Damian then came out of hiding and surrendered to the soldiers

Unknown artist

 Marcus Aurelius Carinus Augustus, western Roman Emperor from 283 to 285

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At Rome, the saints were imprisoned and put on trial. Before the Roman emperor Carinus (283-284), and the judge, they openly professed their faith in Christ God, and they resolutely refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. 

God suddenly struck Carinus blind, so that he too might experience the almighty power of the Lord. The people, beholding the miracle believed, and besought the holy brothers to heal the emperor, and he himself implored the saints, promising to convert to the true God, Christ the Savior, so the saints healed him. After this, Sts Cosmas and Damian were honorably set free, and once again they set about treating the sick.

Unknown artist

Holy Wonderworking Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian at Rome

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An older physician, an instructor, under whom the holy brothers had studied the art of medicine, became envious of their fame. Driven to madness by malice, and overcome by passionate envy, he summoned the two brothers, formerly his most beloved students, proposing that they should all go together in order to gather various medicinal herbs. Going far into the mountains, he murdered them and threw their bodies into a river.


Thus these holy brothers, the Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, ended their earthly journey as martyrs. 

Anonymous North Netherlandish Master

Virgin and Child with patron saints Barbara, Cosmas, Damian, Catherine

Epitaph of Jacob Jan van Assendelft and Haesgen van Outshoorn, c. 1500

Sitter: Jacob Jan van Assendelft, Haesgen van Outshoorn and their children

Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum

Unknown artist

SS. Cosmas and Damian in a landscape, c. 17th

Oil painting

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

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