(1^st of December) , the Coptic Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saints Cosman and Demian, their brothers Artimus, Londius and Arabius and their mother Theodoti.

           These Saints grew in the city of Agas in the region of Arabia and Asia Minor, at the end of the third century. Their mother became a widow when they were young. She was a God- fearing woman, merciful and compassionate to strangers. When the father died she gave her life to bringing up of her five sons.

Christian doctors

           Cosman and Demian studied medicine and became doctors, and the other brothers went to the desert and became monks.

           The Saints selected the medical profession as means of attracting the pagans to the Christian faith.

           They treated both the faithful and the pagans. They healed the sick not by medicine but by the grace of God, saying a short prayer, making the sign of the Cross over the sick and listened to the details of their sickness, then ask God to heal them. They opened the eyes of the blind and cast away demons.

           They were treating the sick at no charge, at the time when they were living the life of poverty, prayer and

honesty, fearing that they might get attached to the love of money. By dong this, they were able to live, with all their hearts to God.

           They were known as the “Doctors with no charge”. Their lives affected many pagans who converted to the Christian faith.

           When Diocletian renounced the Christian faith and ordered to worship the idols, he was told that the saints were trying to convert their city to Christianity. He delivered them to the cruel governor Lissias who arrested and accused them of stirring up trouble by their magic medicine and fictitious Gods. He ordered them to deny God, which they refused and accordingly they were severely tortured. They were subjected to numerous sufferings and pains, but The Lord revealed His Glory in them. 

           When the governor was in pain (possessed by evil spirits) he called the Saints and asked their forgiveness. They had compassion for him and pleaded with The Lord who cured him. Later the governor denied the work of God and began to torture them again.

           The authorities were told of their mother and brothers and how they were all Christians. Cosman and Demian were ordered to bring the rest of their family and appear before the governor on a certain day.

           When they did they were requested to deny their faith but they refused. Orders were given to torture them until they either give in or die.

           Their mother kept encouraging them and strengthening their faith. This in turn angered the governor who ordered her head to be cut off and she received the crown of martyrdom.

           As for the five brothers, they were beheaded and received the crown of the everlasting life.

 May the blessings of this two great Saints, Their mother and their brothers, be with us all. Amen.

Glory be to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ

 Amen.