Patron Saints of Healing
Orthodox Christians bring their sick to the “unmercenary” healers. St Panteleimon was the young physician-martyr who healed without payment. St Luke of Crimea was a surgeon-archbishop of the twentieth century. At the tomb of St Nektarios of Aegina the sick still gather. Holy oil from a lamp, an icon by the bed and the prayers of the family are the Church’s medicine, alongside the doctor’s. St Seraphim, St John of Kronstadt, St Matrona, St Spyridon and the Archangel Raphael are asked too. And the Mother of God is asked first and always.
The saints the Church turns to
St Panteleimon the Healer
Asked for healing of body and soul and for help when doctors can do no more.
27 July (9 August on the Old Calendar).
St Luke of Crimea
Asked for healing of physical and mental illness and strength in long illness.
11 June.
St Nektarios of Aegina
Asked for healing of every illness, especially incurable ones.
9 November (22 November on the Old Calendar).
The Mother of God
Asked for healing of illness, before the icon “Healer.”
Dormition, 15 August (28 August on the Old Calendar).
St Matrona of Moscow
Asked for healing of body and soul.
2 May.
St Seraphim of Sarov
Asked for healing of illness and injury.
2 January (15 January on the Old Calendar).
St John of Kronstadt
Asked for healing of illness.
20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar).
The Archangel Raphael
Asked for healing of bodily and spiritual infirmities.
8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar).
St Spyridon
Asked for healing of illness of body and soul.
12 December (25 December on the Old Calendar).
The Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian are commemorated at every Holy Unction with St Panteleimon.
In our shop
- Icons of the Mother of God — wooden, gold-tone and silver-tone.
- St Panteleimon, St Luke of Crimea, St Nektarios, St Seraphim, St John of Kronstadt, St Matrona, St Spyridon and the Archangel Raphael (coming soon)
How Orthodox Christians pray for this
Call the priest for Holy Unction, Confession and Communion. Put an icon by the bed, light the lamp, and anoint with oil from it. Drink holy water each morning. The family asks for a moleben for the sick, reads the akathist to St Panteleimon, and gives the sick person’s name at every Liturgy. The Church prays alongside the doctor’s care, never instead of it.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Questions
Who is the patron saint of healing?
In the Orthodox Church, St Panteleimon the Healer, with St Luke of Crimea and St Nektarios. Catholics often name St Raphael, St Luke, St Peregrine or St Jude.
What is Holy Unction?
The Church’s sacrament for the sick: the priest anoints with holy oil and the Church prays for healing of soul and body.
