Metaphrastical hagiographical texts (November)

Manuscripts: A: S-384 C: Ivir. georg. 37 F: A-128 H: Ivir. georg. 36 N: H-1347 O: Sin. georg. 91 Sin. 91 (O) Ms. page: O_87v On the first of November: The deeds and miracles of the holy Cosmas and Damian, sons of Theodota. Bless, O father! In the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, all errors and demonic services were abolished by him. There was at that time a certain woman, a servant of God and a God-fearing woman, whose name was Theodota. She was not lacking in virtue on any day of her life, for she was always devoted to the service of God, to purity, and to the contemplation of God, and she fulfilled the commandment of Christ. From her were born these holy ones, Cosmas and Damian, and as they were, the blessed Theodota raised them with all piety and purity, and taught them the divine scriptures. And they learned from the Holy Spirit the art of healing and medicine, and as it is written in the Gospel, they healed all the sick and infirm, not only men but also beasts of burden, and upon them was fulfilled that saying of the prophet: "You save man and beast, O Lord.

And of the sufferings, which the holy Cosmas and Damian healed, this is: they granted sight to the blind in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. They expelled demons and healed every ailment that was in the flesh of men with that grace which was given to them by God. They healed in this way and received nothing from anyone, neither from the rich nor from the poor, but always fulfilled that promise of the Savior, as he said: "You have received without payment, so give without payment." And in their time there was a certain woman, who always lay sick on a bed, whose name was Palladia. And she had lost all her property, and none of the physicians who treated her could benefit her. And when that woman heard of the healing and consolation which Cosmas and Damian performed, then with faith she sent to them and begged that they might see her. But the holy servants of God, Cosmas and Damian, when they saw her faith, diligently went and healed her.

And how that woman knew that through their healing she was healed and through their coming, she gave praise to God, who had granted them that grace of healing; and how that woman knew that they receive payment from no one, neither from the rich nor from the poor at all, for they fulfilled that promise of the Savior; but secretly she brought to holy Damian three eggs. And when he did not wish to accept those eggs, she knelt before his feet and adjured him with a great oath, that he might take those eggs; and only then did holy Damian take those three eggs, so that he might not dishonor that oath, for she adjured by the power of God. And when holy Cosmas heard, he was greatly distressed about his taking of the three eggs, and he earnestly commanded his own, that at their burial they should not be buried together. But on that night the Lord appeared to his servant Cosmas and said: Why did you speak thus about the taking of the three eggs? For he did not take those eggs as payment, but he adjured by my name and took them for that reason, so that he might not be disobedient to that oath, which she adjured by my name.

Now many miracles and signs were wrought by those holy ones, Cosmas and Damian, and with a good confession the holy martyrs bore witness and received the crown together with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom. And while those holy ones, Cosmas and Damian, were still alive, they performed healings not only in cities but also diligently healed the four-footed beasts in the wilderness, for they followed after those who were grievously ill and weak. Once the holy Cosmas went to a certain place and found a camel whose leg had been broken by a demon, and he diligently healed it and set it free. And he went to his own place, and the holy Cosmas wrought many miracles and signs in the wilderness and in the cities through his healing, and they received the crown together with all the saints who were pleasing to our Lord and God Jesus Christ. And as for their bodies, all the people who were there at that time were eager over them. And as they were deliberating in what place they should bury those holy ones, immediately that camel came crying out, like a spokesman, and said: "Men of God, many miracles and signs you have seen from the glorious and holy martyrs of Christ, Cosmas and Damian.

Not only you, but we the sheep, who are given to you for service, also thank you for this, and I have come with haste to tell you, because the Lord revealed to his servant Cosmas that they should not be separated from each other, but that they should be buried together. And when all the people who were zealously devoted to them heard this, they gave glory to God, who had revealed to them that temptation from the sheep by a speaking voice, and they took up and buried them together in that place called Feremnon. There was a certain humble man of that place, and he went out at harvest time to reap his field, and when he was scorched by the sun, he went under a tree to cool himself and fell into a deep sleep, and his mouth was open. A serpent came to him and crept into his belly, and when he awoke, he did not know what had happened to him; he arose and went to his field and reaped. And when he became ill, he entered his house and they set bread before him. He ate and drank, and his body swelled up, and he lay down to sleep. And when he slept, that serpent writhed about inside his belly. And he cried out from the pain. And when all awoke and stood around to heal him, they could find no remedy for him.

He cried out in a loud voice and said: "O God of the holy Cosmas and Damian, help me at this hour!" And as he was being more severely tormented by that serpent, he entered that place called Feremnon, where those saints were buried, and cried out in a loud voice: "O God of the holy Cosmas and Damian, help me!" Then the servants of God, Cosmas and Damian, heard him and immediately breathed a deep sleep upon that man, so that as soon as the evil vessel of the devil, the serpent, entered by some way, they might immediately drive it out again. And as the saints were oppressing that serpent within, it thrust its head forth to exit from the mouth of that man. And all the people beheld that miracle which was being wrought by those saints, Cosmas and Damian. And when it had come forth completely from him, the man awoke and cried out and said: "Let no one lay a hand on that serpent, for it is ordained that it should go to Gehenna." As the man was saying this, the serpent immediately vanished. Then again there was another man named Malchos, who constantly went to that shrine of the saints and beheld those miracles which were being wrought by the saints.

He set out on a distant road and came to his own house, and said to his wife: "Come, let us go to that shrine of the holy Cosmas and Damian." And when that woman heard this, she diligently went with her husband, and as they arrived at that place called Feremnon, Malchos said to his wife: "Woman, behold, I am going on a distant road, and I entrust you to these holy Cosmas and Damian. Stay in your house, and let this miracle be for you. And when God wills, I will send for you and bring you to wherever I am." And as he said this to her, he set out on his own road, and that wife of his went to her own house. And when a few days had passed, the devil learned of that miracle which that man had told his wife, and he put on the appearance of a certain youth and came and stood before that woman and said to her: "Behold, your husband has sent me to you from that city, so that I might bring you to him." And when that woman did not wish to go with him, she told him the entire miracle that had happened to her husband among them. That woman answered and said to him: "I know that miracle, but I am unable to come with you, for I have entrusted myself to the holy Cosmas and Damian.

Now if your word is true, come with me to the shrine of those saints, and enter the church with me, and place your hand upon the altar, and swear to me that you will do me no evil on the road. But that evil demon rejoiced and accepted the woman’s words. He thought that he might dishonor those saints’ power; he boldly entered and placed his hand upon the horn of the altar and spoke thus: “I swear to you by the power of the holy Cosmas and Damian, I will do you no evil, but I will lead you and entrust you to your own husband.” Then that woman, as soon as she had obtained that oath from him, diligently went with him. And when they came to a certain place where no man passed, that woman sat down on a watch-post. Then he threw her down from there, so that he might kill her. But that woman raised her eyes to heaven, cried out with a loud voice and said: “O God of the holy Cosmas and Damian, help me! O holy Cosmas and Damian, do not neglect me, for I entrusted myself to you and came with this man. Now hasten to come and aid me, and deliver me from the hands of this murderous demon.” And as that woman was crying out thus, immediately those saints appeared, as if in the form of horsemen, and a great multitude with them.

But that evil demon, when he saw them, immediately rushed and fell from the cliff, and the abyss opened and swallowed him, and thus was fulfilled the saying of the prophet David: The pit he dug, he was cut down and fell into the very hole he had made. His lamentation turned upon his own head, and his falsehood was buried upon his own neck. Then those servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian, took the woman by the hand and brought her to their own house. Then Cosmas and Damian said to the woman: We are those in whom you believed. It was for this reason that we hastened to come and to help you, in order to deliver you from the hands of the bloodthirsty demon. When the woman heard this, trembling seized her, and she spread out her hands, rejoiced in her heart, and said: Blessed is the Lord God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous lineage. It is you who humbled that furnace over the three youths and turned it into dew. It is you who came to the aid of Thecla in the theater of the beasts. It is you, Lord God, who have given me, this handmaid of yours, not to be neglected, but to be saved from the hands of the bloodthirsty demon by those who pleased you, Cosmas and Damian.

Therefore I praise you and glorify you, who are God over all, for yours is the dominion, power, and glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!