Born Pantoleon (Gr. “in all-things like a
lion”), this pagan took the name Panteleimon (Gr. “All-Merciful”) upon being
baptized. He belongs to a group of Saints known as Holy
Unmercenaries (Άγιοι Ανάργυροι): saints who healed
without asking for payment – something very uncommon during the first
millennium.
In keeping with the principle that in icons Saints hold the instruments of their salvation, Unmercenary
Saints will often hold a medicine box or flask of oil. They may also be shown
holding a long-handled spoon with which to dispense the medicine, usually
resembling a Communion Spoon used to distribute
the Body and Blood of Christ to the people in the Liturgy. The connection
between healing and the taking of communion is thus reinforced.
The icon of St
Panteleimon above is from the early 13th century and shows the Saint holding a
martyr’s cross along with the normal medicine box. The icon is a vita icon,
that is, it contains scenes from Panteleimon’s life, particularly his
martyrdom. The scenes shown are:
Top Row: The priest
Hermolaos adopting Panteleirnon; Panteleimon learning medicine from Hermolaos;
Panteleimon praying for a child bitten by a snake; Panteleimon resurrecting the
child.
Left Side: Panteleimon killing
the snake; Panteleimon healing the blind man; Panteleimon raising the
paralytic; Panteleimon in a vat of boiling lead.
Right Side: Panteleimon baptized;
Panteleimon destroying the idols; Panteleimon scraped and burned; Pantcleimon
put among the wild beasts.
Bottom Row: Panteleitnon
thrown into the sea; Panteleimon and the wheel studded with nails, which turns
on his torturers; Panteleimon beheaded; the burial of Panteleimon.
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