Object ID
2008.11.5
Object Name
Icon
Object Entities
Object Description
This is a colored painting/Icon of Anargyroi, Sts. Kosmas and Damianos. Each are wearing colorful robes. There is also an inscription: "Dedication Jianoulas K. Paraskeuoulakou, October 1939"
Origin
St. Damianos and St. Kosmas (also may be spelled with a 'C' Cosmas) are often iconized and pictured together because they were the patron Saints of Philoptochos, as well as brothers. 'Philos' and 'ptochos' Greek words meaning 'friend of the poor'. They came to the aid of the destitute and poor with no expectation of compensation or reseprocity. In addition they were doctors who became known as the "unmercinaries" of the 4th century BCE.

"Church history describes the miracle of Saint Kosmas
and Saint Damianos, regarding transplantation of
the lower limp of a dead Aegyptian to a Byzantine
noble." (Papadimitriou 1994, Giannopoulou 2004). There is in existance a painting of them performing this leg transplant ; which would be considered miraculous, espcially considering the given time period.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America celebrates an annual feast in thier honor on Nov. 1st. The basilica entitled 'Santi Cosma e Damiano' in Rome, Italy was built in thier honor as well.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Icon, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/7880. Accessed 04/25/24.