November 1, 2010

2 Miracles of the Holy Unmercenaries Kosmas and Damian

Sts. Kosmas and Damian the Unmercenaries (Feast Day - November 1)

                                                           By Monk Lazarus Dionysiatis

The things written below are dedicated to the glory and honor of the Holy Anargyroi [Unmercenaries] doctors Kosmas and Damian.

1. "Wondrous Is God In His Saints"

For two years (1943-1945) I was sick with "vertigo". When I would wake up I had to sit motionless for 3-5 minutes on the bed and then get up, get dressed and make my first steps with great care so as not to fall down because of a headache. If I turned my gaze suddenly to the roof of the room or at a higher point it seemed that everything was spinning and I was in danger of falling down on the floor losing my balance.

Many times the dizziness turned my stomach causing aches so as to vomit. When this happened two times a day I was in a state of sluggishness.

I applied various treatments and asked doctors about it, and after the implementation of their advice I did not see improvement. This situation continued for two years.

During the vigil of November 1, 1945 for the Holy Anargyroi which takes place at the monastery, I chanted as much as I could. During the Divine Liturgy, I went to the Chapel of St. Anargyroi, which was in my custody, to light the candles. Noetically I prayed for the help of the Holy Doctors, and miracle of miracles! After this my disastrous illness ceased, which I discovered after a week.

From then until today, I write these lines, 4 December 1954, and the disease has never returned. For this reason I thank and bless the Saints and Doctors who treated me, Kosmas and Damian, to the ages of ages. Amen.


2. Another Miracle of the Holy Anargyroi

I will tell of another miracle which happened to me recently (1954). In the year 1916 I contracted malaria. I was a novice monk and then worked in the cellar of a dependency of the monastery, called Develikia, in the region of Gomati Halkidiki.

My body weakened so much, that I ended up almost in paralysis. Over the years I became well, but suffer from rheumatoid poly arthritis in the shin of my right leg, on which were formed varicose veins. My situation day by day was getting worse, the pain multiplied and the tibia was ruddy from internal inflammation. It interrupted more than a month of church services for me, because I could not even stand upright or be seated; only lie in bed which relieved my hurt.

The feast of Sts. Anargyroi arrived on 1 November 1954, during which I took courage and went to the katholikon to attend the vigil. Throughout the duration of the service the pains continually disturbed me. There was strong tingling from the knee to the bottom of the leg and around it.

After Matins, the spiritual father Papa-Dionysios served the Liturgy in the Chapel of St. Anargyroi with great devotion and celebration, and the brothers Joachim and Theoklitos sang with great devotion and cheerfulness.

Then followed a festive treat with the usual: cognac, donuts, coffee, boiled wheat. Then, with God's help, we retired for three hours in our cells to rest until meal time.

"Wondrous is God in His Saints" I must cry out loud! The Holy Anargyroi, because of their great compassion and love, invisibly visited and healed me completely. From the time the Divine Liturgy started, I was not even in the minimum of pain anymore. The usual tingling disappeared, my foot came to its natural state, the redness left, the veins unswelled and returned again to the previous healthy state with the help of the visit of my Holy Doctor's, Kosmas and Damian, to whom from my heart and soul I thank.

In their honor I composed the following Megalynarion, which I often sing in front of their holy icon with reverence and gratitude as often as I light their lamps.

Megalynarion
From deep within my soul, the poor supplicant, gratefully thanks you, our Unmercenaries Kosmas and Damian, for the healings which you give us.

Source: Λαζάρου Μοναχού Διονυσιάτου, Διονυσιάτικες Διηγήσεις, έκδ. Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Διονυσίου, Άγιον Όρος. Translated by John Sanidopoulos