The Feast of St. Pantaleon

Born in what is now Turkey around 275, his mother was St. Ebula. 

After she died, while studying medicine, Panteleon fell away from The Church. However, he crossed paths with St. Hermolaus, who convinced him that, if he were going to be a physician, he should return to, ”the physician Who heals all”, saying: “Of what use are all these studies if you are ignorant of the science of Salvation.” 

Panteleon returned to his faith, became a doctor and, at one point, healed a blind man miraculously which led to the conversion of his own father. 

After that, his father died and Panteleon inherited great wealth and all of his father’s slaves, but he freed the slaves and gave away his inheritance which caused those in the upper class to denounce him to the Emperor, Diocletian. 

Looking for a way to free him, Diocletian asked Panteleon to rebuke his faith but refused and, instead, healed a man of paralysis. 

He was condemned to be executed but many attempts failed and it was only after he offered himself to be beheaded that his execution succeeded. 

St. Pantaleon, please pray for us.