Saint
Damian,
twin
brother
of
Saint
Cosmas
(or
Cosme),
was
born
in
Arabia
in
the
3rd
century.
A
Christian
physician,
he
treated
the
sick
for
free
alongside
his
brother,
refusing
any
payment.
With
Cosme,
he
was
nicknamed
"Anargyre"
("without
money")
because
of
this
free
care
provided.
Their
miracles
and
their
charity
led
to
many
conversions
to
Christianity.
They
were
arrested
under
the
Emperor
Diocletian
during
the
anti-Christian
persecutions.
Damian
was
martyred
with
his
brother
around
287,
probably
in
Cilicia
(present-day
Turkey).
Venerated
together,
they
are
patron
saints
of
doctors,
surgeons
and
pharmacists.
Their
common
feast
is
celebrated
on
September
26.
