Cosmas and Damian ( – or AD) were two

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

physicians and early

Christian martyrs In Christianity, a martyr is a person who was killed for their testimony for Jesus or faith in Jesus. In the years of the early church, stories depict this often occurring through death by sawing, stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake, or ...

. They practised their profession in the seaport of Aegeae, then in the Roman

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Cilicia Cilicia () is a geographical region in southern Anatolia, extending inland from the northeastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Cilicia has a population ranging over six million, concentrated mostly at the Cilician plain (). The region inclu ...

. Cosmas and Damian were third century Arabian-born twin brothers who embraced Christianity and practised medicine and surgery without a fee. This led them to being named ''anargyroi'' (from the Greek , "the silverless" or " unmercenaries"); by this, they attracted many to the Christian faith. They reputedly cured blindness, fever, paralysis and reportedly expelled a serpent. They were arrested by Lysias, governor of Cilicia (modern-day Çukurova, Turkey) during the Diocletian persecution because of their faith and fame as healers. Emperor

Diocletian Diocletian ( ; ; ; 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed Jovius, was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Diocles to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia (Roman province), Dalmatia. As with other Illyri ...

, who favoured the worship of the Olympian gods, issued a series of edicts that condemned the Christians with the goal of eliminating Christianity from the Roman Empire.

Lives

Nothing is known of their lives except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of the Emperor

. According to Christian traditions, the twin brothers were born in Arabia and became skilled doctors. Saladino d'Ascoli, a 15th-century Italian physician, claims that the medieval

electuary An electuary is a medicine consisting of a powder or other ingredient mixed with something sweet such as honey to make it more palatable.

, a pasty mass consisting of a drug mixed with sugar and water or honey suitable for oral administration, known as opopira, a complex compound medicine used to treat diverse maladies including paralysis, was invented by Cosmas and Damian. During the

persecution Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another individual or group. The most common forms are religious persecution, racism, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these term ...

under Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were arrested by order of the

Prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect' ...

, one Lysias who is otherwise unknown, who ordered them under

torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons including corporal punishment, punishment, forced confession, extracting a confession, interrogational torture, interrogation for information, or intimid ...

to recant. However, according to legend they stayed true to their faith, enduring being hung on a cross, stoned, shot by arrows, and finally suffered execution by

beheading Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common ...

. Anthimus, Leontius and Euprepius, their younger brothers, who were inseparable from them throughout life, shared in their martyrdom.

Veneration

Holy Cosmas and holy Damian shrine in St

The veneration of Cosmas and Damian quickly spread beyond Constantinople; accounts of their martyrdom were rewritten by various authors such as

Andrew of Crete Andrew of Crete (, c. 650 – July 4, 712 or 726 or 740), also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, was an 8th-century bishop, theologian, homilist,A list of forty of his discourses, together with twenty-one edited sermons, is given in ''Patrologia Gr ...

, Peter the Wonderworker,

Theodore II Laskaris Theodore II Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris (; November 1221/1222 – 16 August 1258) was Emperor of Nicaea from 1254 to 1258. He was the only child of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Empress Irene Laskarina. His mother was the eldest da ...

, and a certain Maximus . The legends are preserved also in Syriac, Coptic, Georgian, Armenian, and Latin. As early as the 4th century, churches dedicated to the twin saints were established at

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

, in Egypt and in

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both the East and the West.

Theodoret Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus (; AD 393 – 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457). He played a pivotal role in several 5th-century Byzantine ...

records the division of their reputed relics. Their relics, deemed miraculous, were buried in the city of

Cyrrhus Cyrrhus (; ) is a city in ancient Syria founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals. Other names for the city include Coricium, Corice, Hagioupolis, Nebi Huri (), and Khoros (). A false etymology of the sixth century conne ...

in Syria. Churches were built in their honor by Archbishop

Proclus of Constantinople Proclus of Constantinople (Greek: Πρόκλος; c. 390 – 24 July 446) was the Archbishop of Constantinople from 434 until his death. Renowned for his homiletic abilities, Proclus played a central role in the Nestorian controversy. His cont ...

and by Emperor

Justinian I Justinian I (, ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 527 to 565. His reign was marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovatio imperii'', or "restoration of the Empire". This ambition was ...

(527–565), who sumptuously restored the city of Cyrrhus and dedicated it to the twins, but brought their purported relics to

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

. There, following his cure, ascribed to the intercession of Cosmas and Damian, Justinian, in gratitude also built and adorned their church at Constantinople, and it became a celebrated place of pilgrimage. At Rome, Pope Felix IV (526–530) rededicated the Library of Peace (''Bibliotheca Pacis'') as a

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

of Santi Cosma e Damiano in the Forum of Vespasian in their honour. The church is much rebuilt but still famed for its sixth-century mosaics illustrating the saints. What are said to be their skulls are venerated in the

Convent of Las Descalzas Reales The Convent of Las Descalzas Reales () is a royal monastery situated in Madrid, Spain, administered by the Patrimonio Nacional. History The ''Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales'', literally the "Monastery of the Royal Discalced", resides in ...

of the

Clares Clares is a small village in the Guadalajara province, incorporated since 1969 in the Maranchón municipality, belonging to the Señorio de Molina-Alto Tajo region in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Geography Location ...

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

, where they have been since 1581, the gift of Maria, daughter of Emperor

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

. They had previously been removed from Rome to

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...

in the tenth century, and thence to

Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian German, East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia district in Bavaria, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main (river), Main. Bamberg had 79,000 inhabitants in ...

. Other skulls said to be theirs were discovered in 1334 by Burchard Grelle,

Archbishop of Bremen This list records the bishops of the Archdiocese of Bremen, Roman Catholic diocese of Bremen (), supposedly a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Archbishopric of Cologne, then of the bishops of Bremen, who were in personal union archbishops ...

. He personally "miraculously" retrieved the relics of the holy physicians Cosmas and Damian, which were allegedly immured and forgotten in the choir of the

Bremen Cathedral Bremen Cathedral (), named after St. Peter, is a church situated in the market square in the center of Bremen. The cathedral belongs to the Bremian Evangelical Church, a member of the umbrella organization Evangelical Church in Germany. It ...

. In celebration of the retrieval Archbishop and

Chapter Chapter or Chapters may refer to: Books * Chapter (books), a main division of a piece of writing or document * Chapter book, a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age 7–10 * Chapters (bookstore), Canadian big box bookstore ...

arranged a feast at Pentecost 1335, when the relics were translated from the wall to a more dignified place. Grelle claimed the relics were those Archbishop

Adaldag Adaldag (c. 90028 April 988; also Adelgis, Adelger, and Adalgag) was the seventh archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, from 937 until his death. Life Adaldag was of noble birth, a relation and pupil of Adalward, Bishop of Verden, and became canon of H ...

brought from Rome in 965. The cathedral master-builder Johann Hemeling made a shrine for the relics, which was finished . The shrine, made from carved oak wood covered with gilt and rolled silver is considered an important mediaeval gold work. In 1649 Bremen's Chapter, Lutheran by this time, sold the shrine without the heads to

Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria Maximilian I (17 April 157327 September 1651), occasionally called the Great, a member of the House of Wittelsbach, ruled as Duke of Bavaria from 1597. His reign was marked by the Thirty Years' War during which he obtained the title of a prince- ...

. The two heads remained in Bremen and came into the possession of the small Roman Catholic community. They were shown from 1934 to 1968 in the Church of St. Johann and in 1994 they were buried in the crypt. The shrine is now shown in the

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

church of St Michael in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. At least since 1413 another supposed pair of skulls of the saints has been stored in St Stephens's Cathedral in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

. Other relics are claimed by the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

. The martyr twins are invoked in the

Canon of the Mass The Canon of the Mass (), also known as the Canon of the Roman Mass and in the Mass of Paul VI as the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I, is the oldest Anaphora (liturgy), anaphora used in the Roman Rite of Mass (liturgy), Mass. The name ''Canon ...

in the prayer known as the ''Communicantes'' (from the first Latin word of the prayer): "In communion with the whole Church, they venerate above all others the memory of the glorious ever-virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, then of blessed Joseph, husband of the Virgin, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, ...John and Paul, ''Cosmas and Damian'' and all your Saints: grant through their merits and prayers that in all things we may be defended by the help of your protection." They are also invoked in the

Litany of the Saints The Litany of the Saints (Latin: ''Litaniae Sanctorum'') is a formal prayer of the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Old Catholic Church, Lutheran congregations of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, Anglican congregations of Anglo-Catholic c ...

, and in the older form of the Roman rite, in the

Collect The collect ( ) is a short general prayer of a particular structure used in Christian liturgy. Collects come up in the liturgies of Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican churches, among others. Etymology The word is first seen as Latin ''collēcta'' ...

for Thursday in the Third Week of Lent, as the

station church Station days were days of fasting in the early Christian Church, associated with a procession to certain prescribed churches in Rome, where the Mass and Vespers would be celebrated to mark important days of the liturgical year. Although other citi ...

for this day is Santi Cosma e Damiano. Their

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

in the

General Roman Calendar The General Roman Calendar (GRC) is the liturgy, liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and Sacred mysteries, mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgic ...

, which had been on 27 September, was moved in 1969 to 26 September because 27 September is the ''dies natalis'' ("day of birth" into Heaven) of

Vincent de Paul Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was an Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor. In 1622, Vincent was appointed as chaplain to the galleys. ...

, now more widely venerated in the

Latin Church The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...

. In Canada it has been moved to 25 September (as 26 September is the Feast of the Canadian Martyrs in Canada). Sts Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians, surgeons, and pharmacists and are sometimes represented with medical emblems. They are also regarded as the patron saints of twins. In

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, the twin saints are regarded as protectors of children, and 27 September is commemorated, especially in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, by giving children bags of candy with the saints' effigy printed on them and throughout the entire state of Bahia where Catholics and adepts of

Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West and Central Africa, especi ...

religion offer typical food such as caruru. The ritual consists of first offering the food to seven children that are no older than seven years old and then having them feast while sitting on the floor and eating with their hands. For adepts of Candomblé and

Umbanda Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catho ...

, the saints are

syncretised Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus ...

with the

Ibeji Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí, or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of an Orisha representing a pair of divine twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originating from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria). In t ...

. The Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, in

Igarassu, Pernambuco Igarassu (or Igaraçu) is a city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It is the second-oldest city of the country and is situated on the north coast of the metropolitan region of Recife, approximately . It stands as one of the earliest European ...

is Brazil's oldest church, built in 1535. In the UK, Damian is the

dexter Dexter may refer to: People * Dexter (given name) * Dexter (surname) * Dexter (singer), Brazilian rapper Marcos Fernandes de Omena (born 1973) * Famous Dex, also known as Dexter, American rapper Dexter Tiewon Gore Jr. (born 1993) Places United ...

side supporter in the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

of the

British Dental Association The British Dental Association (BDA) is a registered trade union for dentists in the United Kingdom. Its stated mission is to "promote the interests of members, advance the science, arts and ethics of dentistry and improve the nation's oral h ...

. Cosmas and Damian are venerated every year in

Utica, New York Utica () is the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The tenth-most populous city in New York, its population was 65,283 in the 2020 census. It is located on the Mohawk River in the Mohawk Valley at the foot of the Adiro ...

, at St. Anthony's Parish during the annual pilgrimage which takes place on the last weekend of September (close to the 27 September feast day). There are thousands of pilgrims who come to honor the saints. Over 80 busloads come from Canada and other destinations. The two-day festival includes music (La Banda Rosa), much Italian food, Masses and processions through the streets of East Utica. It is one of the largest festivals honoring saints in the Northeastern United States.

Eastern Christianity

In the

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, and also called the Greek Orthodox Church or simply the Orthodox Church, is List of Christian denominations by number of members, one of the three major doctrinal and ...

Eastern Catholic Churches The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also known as the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous (''sui iuris'') particular churches of ...

, and the

Oriental Orthodox Churches The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 50 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to the Nicene Christian tradition. Oriental Orthodoxy is ...

, Cosmas and Damian are venerated as a type of saint known as

Unmercenary Physicians Holy Unmercenaries () is an epithet applied to a number of Christian saints who did not accept payment for good deeds. These include Christian healers or physicians who, in conspicuous opposition to medical practice of the day, tended to the ...

(, ''anargyroi,'' ''"without money"''). This classification of saints is unique to the Eastern Church and refers to those who heal purely out of love for God and man, strictly observing the command of Jesus: "Freely have you received, freely give", (« Δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε... » ) While each of the Unmercenaries has his own

s, all are commemorated together on the first Sunday in November, in a feast known as the

Synaxis A synaxis ( "gathering"; Slavonic: собор, ''sobor'') is a liturgical assembly in Eastern Christianity (the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite). Synaxes of feast days In Constantinopl ...

of the Unmercenary Physicians. The Orthodox celebrate no less than three different sets of saints by the name of Cosmas and Damian, each with their own distinct

: * Saints Cosmas and Damian of Cilicia (Arabia) (

17 October Events Pre-1600 * 690 – Empress Wu Zetian establishes the Zhou Dynasty of China. * 1091 – London tornado of 1091: A tornado thought to be of strength T8/F4 strikes the heart of London. * 1346 – The English capture King D ...

) Brothers, according to Christian legend they were beaten and beheaded together with three other Christians: Leontius, Anthimus, and Eutropius. * Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor — alternately of Mesopotamia (

1 November Events Pre-1600 *365 – The Alemanni cross the Rhine and invade Gaul. Emperor Valentinian I moves to Paris to command the army and defend the Gallic cities. * 996 – Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk, Bishop of Freising, w ...

) Twin sons of Theodota of Philippi. Died peacefully and were buried together at Thereman in

. * Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome (

1 July Events Pre-1600 * 69 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his Roman legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as Emperor. * 552 – Battle of Taginae: Byzantine forces under Narses defeat the Ostrogoths in Italy, and th ...

) Brothers, according to Christian tradition they were

martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...

ed outside Rome by a jealous pagan physician during the reign of the Roman Emperor

Carinus Marcus Aurelius Carinus (died 285) was Roman Emperor from 283 to 285. The eldest son of the Emperor Carus, he was first appointed '' Caesar'' in late 282, then given the title of ''Augustus'' in early 283, and made co-emperor of the western p ...

(283–285). Orthodox

icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic Church, Catholic, and Lutheranism, Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, mother of ...

s of the saints depict them vested as laymen holding medicine boxes. Often each will also hold a spoon with which to dispense medicine. The handle of the spoon is normally shaped like a cross to indicate the importance of spiritual as well as physical healing, and that all cures come from God.

Churches

Australia

* St Mary & Sts Cozman and Demian Coptic Orthodox Church * St Damians Catholic Church, Bundoora, Victoria * Sts Anargiri, Greek Orthodox Church, Oakleigh, Victoria * Agioi Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church, Sydney, New South Wales

Brazil

Church of Saints Cosme and Damião Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

* Sts. Cosmas and Damian Orthodox Church,

Rio de Janeiro (state) Rio de Janeiro () is one of the States of Brazil, 27 federative units of Brazil. It has the second largest economy of Brazil, with the largest being that of the state of São Paulo (state), São Paulo. The state, which has 8.2% of the Brazilian p ...

Bulgaria

* Sandanski Monastery "Sveti Sveti Kozma i Damyan" * Kuklen Monastery "Sveti Sveti Kozma i Damyan" * Gigintsi Monastery "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan" * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Sandanski * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Svetovrachane * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Plovdiv * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Smolyan area * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Belashtitsa * Church of "St.St. Bezsrebrenitsi Kosma and Damyan", Krichim

Canada

* Church of Saint-Côme,

Matawinie Regional County Municipality Matawinie () is a regional county municipality in the region of Lanaudière in southwestern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is Rawdon. The population according to the 2021 Canadian Census was 55,500. Subdivisions There are 27 subdivisions within the ...

Québec Quebec is Canada's largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, New Brunswick to the southeast and a coastal border ...

* Église St-Damien, Saint Damien,

China

* Saints Cosmas and Damian Church (Hong Kong)

Croatia

* Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Lastovo * Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Kuzminec * Sv. Kuzman i Damjan, Polaća

England

Blean Blean is a village and civil parish in the Canterbury district of Kent, England. The civil parish is large and is mostly woodland, much of which is ancient woodland. The developed village within the parish is scattered along the road between C ...

, Kent, church of St Cosmus and St Damian *

Challock Challock is a mostly wooded, large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, Kent, England. The village name derives from the old English 'Cealfloca' – calf enclosure. A clear nucleus of the village is centred south of the port ...

, Kent *

Keymer Keymer is a village in the civil parish of Hassocks, in the Mid Sussex District, Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. It lies on the B2116 road south of Burgess Hill. In 1971 the parish had a population of 5303. On 1 April 2000 the p ...

, Sussex, St Cosmas and St Damian Church * Sherrington,

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...

, church of St Cosmo and St Damian
Stretford church
near

Leominster Leominster ( ) is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is north of Hereford and south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of almos ...

, Herefordshire, church no longer in use and in the care of the

Churches Conservation Trust The Churches Conservation Trust is a registered charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk in England. The charity cares for over 350 churches of architectural, cultural and historic significance, which have been transferred in ...

Gospel Oak Gospel Oak is an area of north west London in the London Borough of Camden at the very south of Hampstead Heath. The neighbourhood is positioned between Hampstead to the north-west, Dartmouth Park to the north-east, Kentish Town to the south-ea ...

, north London, Greek Orthodox Church of St Cosmas and Damian (at 1 Gordon House Road, London NW5)

France

* Saint Côme-Saint Damien church,

Luzarches Luzarches () is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. Luzarches station has rail connections to Sarcelles and Paris. Just south of the town is a monument on the D316, which commemorates the closest distan ...

Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...

* Saint Côme-Saint Damien church,

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

* Saint Côme-Saint Damien church, Chamboulive * Saint Côme-Saint Damien church,

Serdinya Serdinya (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Residents are Serdinya are called ''Serdinyanais'' in French and ''Serdinyanencs'' in Catalan. Geography Localisation Serdinya is located in the cant ...

Germany

Essen Cathedral Essen Minster (German: ), since 1958 also Essen Cathedral () is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Essen, the "Diocese of the Ruhr", founded in 1958. The church, dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian and the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands on ...

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

Goa

* Igreja dos Santos Cosme e Damião, Bogmalo

Greece

* 10th-century chapel of ''Agioi Anargyroi'' in the town of Servia * 11th-century church in the city of

Kastoria Kastoria (, ''Kastoriá'' ) is a city in northern Greece in the modern regions of Greece, region of Western Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria (regional unit), Kastoria regional unit, in the Geographic regions of Greece, geographic region ...

Hungary

* Szent Kozma és Damján templom, Vát

Hong Kong

* SS. Cosmas & Damian Catholic Church,

Tsuen Wan Tsuen Wan (formerly also spelled Tsun Wan) is a New towns of Hong Kong, town built on a bay in the New Territories West (constituency), western New Territories of Hong Kong, opposite Tsing Yi, Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market ...

Italy

* Basilica of Santi Medici e Martiri Cosma e Damiano; Alberobello,

Puglia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...

* Santi Cosma e Damiano, Alcamo, church in Alcamo, Italy * Basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano, I Santi Medici, Bitonto, Bari * Santi Cosma e Damiano, Brescia, church in Brescia, Italy * Santi Cosma e Damiano, Crosa, church in Crosa, Italy Lessona, Piedmonte * Santi Cosma e Damiano, Genoa, church in Genoa, Italy *

Santi Cosma e Damiano, Isernia Santi Cosma e Damiano is a Roman Catholic church in the town of Isernia in the region of Molise, Italy. History A chapel at the hilltop at this site was founded circa 1130, and by the 14th century, a new church was erected dedicated to the Sai ...

, church in Isernia, Italy * Sanctuary of San Cosimo alla Macchia in

Oria, Apulia Oria (or ''Orra'', ; or , '; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Apulia region (Salento), in the province of Brindisi, in southern Italy. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oria. History Antiquity In classical times, Oria was know ...

br>San Cosimo alla Macchia
* Santi Cosma e Damiano, Persico, church in Persico, Italy *

Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome The basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano is a titular church in Rome, Italy. It is the conventual church of the General Curia of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Penance, Franciscan Third Order Regular. The lower portion of the building i ...

, church in Rome, Italy, titular church of a cardinal deacon * Santi Cosma e Damiano a Porta Nolana, church in Naples, Italy *

Santi Cosma e Damiano ai Banchi Nuovi

Santi ...

, church in Naples, Italy

Kenya

* Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Anargyroi, Nairobi

Macedonia

* Sv. Kuzman i Damjan Ohrid * Sv. Kuzman i Damjan Jedoarce, Tetovo * Sv. Kuzman i Damjan Govrlevo, Skopje * Sv. Kuzman i Damjan Triangla, Skopje * Sv. Kuzman i Damjan Bolnicka Crkva, Veles (Sveti Besrebrenici Kozma i Damjan) * Sv. "Kuzman i Damjan" - Strumica (Sveti bessrebrenici Kozma i Damjan)

Mexico

* Saint Cosmas and Damian Church, Mazatecochco,

Tlaxcala Tlaxcala, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala, is one of the 32 federal entities that comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Tlaxcala, 60 municipalities and t ...

* Saint Cosmas and Damian Church, Xaloztoc, Tlaxcala * Saint Cosmas and Damian Church, San Damián Texoloc, Tlaxcala * San Cosme y Damián Church,

Villa de Cos Villa de Cos is one of the 58 municipalities of the Mexican state of Zacatecas. It is located in the center-east of the state, bordered by the municipalities of Mazapil, Francisco R. Murguia, Río Grande, Felipe Pescador, Fresnillo, Pánuco ...

, Zacatecas

Paraguay

Poland

* Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Kolechowice

Russia

Church of Cosmas and Damian, Novgorod Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

Serbia

* Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Ivanjica * Church of St. Cosmas and Damian, Futog * Zočište Monastery,

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

Slovakia

* Kostol sv. Kozmu a Damiána, Bratislava - Dúbravka * Kostol sv. Kozmu a Damiána, Trenčín - Biskupice * Kostol sv. Kozmu a Damiána, Kšinná

United States

* Chapel of San Cosme y Damián,

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

* Ss. Cosmas & Damian Church,

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Punxsutawney (; Unami language, Lenape: ') is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in southern Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 5,769. It is located approximately ...

* Chapel of Saint Cosmas & Damiano;

* Chapel of Saint Cosmas & Damian;

Flushing, New York Flushing is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City. Downtown Flushing is a major commercial and retail area, and the ...

* Saints Cosmas and Damian Society,

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...

* Saint Cosmas & Damiano Society of St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church,

* Saint Damian,

Oak Forest, Illinois Oak Forest is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The city is out south-southwest of downtown Chicago in Bremen Township. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,478. History Human habitation in Oak Forest began during the ...

* Ss. Cosmas & Damian Church,

Twinsburg, Ohio Twinsburg is a suburban city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, located midway between Akron and Cleveland. The population was 19,248 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Akron metropolitan area. History The first person to settle Mills ...

* Ss. Cosmas & Damian Church,

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Conshohocken ( ; ) is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in ...

(closed 2014) * Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church,

Marlborough, Massachusetts Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 41,793 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high ...

* Saints Cosmas-Damian Catholic,

Orting, Washington Orting is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,041 at the 2020 census. It is located between the Puyallup and Carbon rivers in central Pierce County, approximately northwest of Mount Rainier. History The ...

Notes and references

Notes

References

External links

Leslie G. Matthews, "SS. Cosmas and Damian — Patron Saints of Medicine and Pharmacy: Their Cult in England" in ''Medical History''
notes on the few English churches dedicated to these saints
''Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor''
(1 November) Eastern Orthodox

and

synaxarion Synaxarion or Synexarion (plurals Synaxaria, Synexaria; , from συνάγειν, ''synagein'', "to bring together"; cf. etymology of '' synaxis'' and ''synagogue''; Latin: ''Synaxarium'', ''Synexarium''; ; Ge'ez: ሲናክሳሪየም(ስንክ� ...

''Holy Wonderworking Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian at Rome''
(1 July)
''Martyrs and Unmercenaries Cosmas Damian in Cilicia''
(17 October)
''Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenaries''
Icon

at th
Christian Iconography
web site

from the Caxton translation of the ''Golden Legend''
The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Cambridge, MA

Domkirche Ss. Cosmas und Damian und der heiligen Jungfrau Maria, Essen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosmas And Damian, Saints 3rd-century births 287 deaths 3rd-century Christian martyrs 3rd-century Roman physicians Saints duos Groups of Roman Catholic saints Syrian Christian saints Ancient Roman twins Holy Unmercenaries Christian miracle workers Arabs in the Roman Empire Arab Christian saints 3rd-century Arab people Brother duos Christians martyred during the reign of Diocletian Groups of Christian martyrs of the Roman era

Lives

Veneration

Eastern Christianity

Churches

Australia

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Canada

China

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France

Germany

Goa

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Hungary

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Italy

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United States

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

External links