St. Cosmas and St. Damian

St. Cosmas and St. Damian were twin brothers, who practiced medicine. They refused all payments in order to convert their patients. Roman Proconsul Lysias ordered them to be chained together and thrown into the sea, but an angel brought them ashore. Then they were tied to a post to be burnt alive, but the flames flared up against their executioners. Lysias tried to have the brothers stoned, but the stones all fell short. Finally they were both beheaded. St. Cosmas and St. Damian are patron saints of medicine, doctors and pharmacists. In fine art they are usually depicted in lined robes, hoods or cylindrical physicians’ hats, carrying surgeons’ bags and instruments.

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