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Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers, born in Arabia in the third century. They both became skilled doctors, and practiced together in the port city of Aegea in Asia Minor. Since they healed out of love for God and never charged fees, they were called “the silverless”. Their Christian faith was generally respected by the pagan citizens, and the brothers evangelized as they worked, not least through miraculous healings. Their fame, position, and successful conversions eventually made them a target of the pagan authorities, and when the great persecution of Diocletian broke out, around the turn of the fourth century, Cosmas and Damian were among the first arrested. When they zealously professed their faith, they were bound and thrown into the sea, but saved by an angel. The saintly doctors then survived fire, crucifixion, arrows, and stoning, inspiring many more conversions in the crowd, until the frustrated pagans finally beheaded the brothers. These patrons of doctors, of surgeons, and against many ailments are honored on several other dates in various calendars, and mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. The Roman Martyrology lists three of their brothers martyred alongside them: Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius.
AT AEgea, during the persecution of Diocletian, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian, brothers. After miraculously overcoming many torments from bonds, imprisonment, fire, crucifixion, stoning, arrows, and from being cast into the sea, they received capital punishment. With them are said to have also suffered three of their brothers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius.
At Rome, St. Epicharis, wife of a senator, who, in the same persecution, was scourged with leaded whips, and struck with the sword.
At Todi, the holy martyrs Fidentius and Terence, under the same Diocletian.
At Cordova, the holy martyrs Adulphus and John, brothers, who won the martyr’s crown in the Arabian persecution.
At Sion, in Switzerland, St. Florentinus, martyr, who was put to the sword with blessed Hilary, after his tongue had been cut out.
At Byblos, in Phoenicia, St. Mark, bishop, who is also called John by blessed Luke.
At Milan, the holy bishop Caius, a disciple of the blessed apostle Barnabas, who passed calmly to rest after suffering severely in the persecution of Nero.
At Ravenna, St. Aderitus, bishop and confessor.
At Paris, St. Vincent de Paul, priest, and founder of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity, an apostolic man and a father to the poor. His feast is celebrated on the 19th of July.
In the same city, St. Eleazar, count.
In Hainaut, St. Hiltrude, virgin.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.