The Roman Catholic Church honors Wednesday, July 27, the life and works of San Pantaleon, the patron saint of physicians and midwives.
On his feast day, devotees and pilgrims traditionally gather at his major shrine at the Church of St. Denis in Paris, France, where special prayers and petitions are offered before his sacred relics.
In the country, commemorative masses will be offered in San Pantaleon Church in Magarao, Camarines Sur.
St. Pantaleon is venerated in the West as one of the late medieval 14 Holy Helpers (saints whose intercession was invoked during the plague), while in the East, he is considered one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers and is venerated as a great martyr and wonder worker.
Born in the year 275 in Nicomedia near the Black Sea in Asia, he was introduced to Christianity by his mother, Eubula, who was also canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. His name Pantaleon means “mercy for all” in Greek.
Blessed with healing powers, St. Pantaleon was also a doctor by profession. He died a martyr of the faith in 305 A.D. at a time of intense Christian persecution. His major shrine is the Pantaleon Monastery in the Jordan desert.