A special national holiday on August 9 is Panteleimon the Healer: history, traditions, omens

Every year on August 9, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Great Martyr and healer Panteleimon, a doctor from Nicomedia who helped the sick for free and accepted death for refusing to renounce Christianity. In the national calendar, the date is known as Panteleimon the Healer, Paliy, or Cabbage Patch. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Sunday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

Panteleimon the Healer – 2026: the history of the holiday

The future Great Martyr was born at the end of the 3rd century in Nicomedia, a large city in Bithynia in northwestern Asia Minor. At birth, he received the name Pantoleon, which translated as "the lion in everything." His father, Eustorgius, was a wealthy pagan, and his mother, Evvula, professed Christianity and told her son about her faith from an early age.

Evvula died early, and Pantoleon's father took over his upbringing. He enrolled his son in a pagan school, and then sent him to study medicine with the famous Nicomedia physician Euphrosyne.

The young man quickly mastered medicine and attracted attention not only for his professional abilities, but also for his education, good manners and the ability to talk to people. He was introduced to Emperor Maximian, who wanted to make a talented healer a court physician.

At that time, the persecution of followers of the new faith continued in the Roman Empire. In Nicomedia, the authorities destroyed Christian churches, destroyed sacred books, and required believers to participate in pagan sacrifices. According to legend, thousands of people died one day during a service in a city church. The elders of the monastery, Ermolai, Ermippus and Hermocrates, miraculously survived and were forced to hide.

Ermolai repeatedly saw Pantoleon from the window of the house in which he was hiding. One day, the priest called the young man to him and talked to him about Christ, mercy, and the meaning of medical service. After the first conversation, Pantoleon began to visit the presbyter regularly and gradually become familiar with Christian teaching.

One day, returning from Ermolai's, a young doctor saw a child who had died from a venomous snake bite. Pantoleon turned to Christ with a request to bring the boy back to life and promised to be baptized if the prayer was answered. A miracle happened, and the child came to life.

After the incident, Ermolai baptized his disciple. Pantoleon spent the next seven days with a spiritual mentor, studying the Gospel and strengthening his new faith. Soon, a blind man was brought to the young doctor. Other doctors could not help him, but Pantoleon restored the patient's eyesight in the name of Jesus. Having regained the ability to see, he too was baptized.

Pantoleon helped the poor without charging fees, visited Christians who were imprisoned, and made no distinction between wealthy patients and those who could not afford to pay for medicines.

The popularity of the young healer caused discontent among other Nicomedia doctors. They lost patients and were jealous of his fame, so they informed the emperor that Pantoleon professed a forbidden religion, helped Christian prisoners and converted people to a new faith.

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Maximian tried to save the life of a capable medic. He demanded that Pantoleon sacrifice to the pagan gods. But the doctor refused and offered to test the power of faith on a seriously ill person who had not been helped by previous treatment.

The life tells us that Pantoleon healed the paralytic in front of the emperor and the courtiers. Instead of admitting what had happened, Maximian ordered the execution of the recovered man and the torture of the doctor.

Pantoleon was led into the arena and given to the beasts. However, the animals did not attack him, but approached without aggression. The audience, seeing this, began to demand the prisoner's release and glorify the Christian God. The emperor ordered the crowd to be dispersed and the martyr executed.

At that moment, the name Panteleimon sounded from heaven, which translates as "the all-merciful" or "the most merciful." After the execution, according to legend, blood and milk flowed from the wounds of the doctor. They tried to burn the body, but the fire did not damage it. The Christians took the remains and buried them on the land of Scholastic Adamantius.

The veneration of the healer quickly spread throughout the Christian East. Already in the IV century, temples were built in his honor. The relics eventually ended up in different countries, and the head of the Great martyr is kept in the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. In Orthodox worship, his name is heard during the sacrament of Unction, the consecration of water, and prayers for the sick.

Panteleimon has been revered in Russia since the 12th century. Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich, who was christened Panteleimon, placed the image of the saint on his battle helmet. The commemoration day of the Great Martyr coincided with two victories of the Russian fleet over Sweden — at Gangut in 1714 and at Gringam in 1720. Therefore, the saint is considered not only a heavenly helper of the sick and doctors, but also the patron saint of warriors.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on August 9th

In Russia, the name of Saint Panteleimon was transformed into a more familiar—sounding name - Panteleimon, hence the name of the holiday — Panteleimon the Healer. The believers began the morning with a visit to the temple and a divine service. They placed candles in front of the image of Panteleimon, gave notes about the health of relatives and ordered prayer services.

The saint was asked for relief from physical and mental ailments, a successful outcome of the operation, strength during prolonged treatment and protection for doctors, military doctors and rescuers. Women turned to the healer with requests for the health of children and getting rid of infertility. The relatives of the seriously ill prayed for patience and hope, and the doctors themselves prayed for attentiveness, the right decision and the ability not to lose compassion for the patient.

The ancestors tried to honor the memory of the silverless doctor with good deeds - they visited sick relatives, brought food to lonely neighbors, helped the elderly with household chores, shared medicine collections and did not pass by the person who needed help.

In early August, thunderstorms were especially frequent in Russia. The peasants believed that in bad weather, lightning could set fire to hayfields, hay and ripe bread, so the date was also called "Panteleimon Paliy". Field work was stopped on this day in many areas. It was believed that Paliy could punish with fire those who did not honor the feast day.

The free time was devoted to gardening and household preparations. At this time, the cabbage began to curl into dense heads. This is how another name of the holiday appeared — "Cabbage Patch". On August 9, the housewives inspected the cabbage beds and removed the damaged leaves.

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One of the main treats on this day were pies with young cabbage. Pastries were served to the family, taken to the neighbors, distributed to children, wanderers and those in need. Generosity was associated with the example of Panteleimon himself, who treated people for free and did not refuse the poor. The first cut cabbage was also used for cabbage soup and stews.

On August 9, the healers continued to harvest medicinal plants. They went out for herbs after the dew dried, choosing dry, undamaged leaves and flowers. The collected items were laid out in the shade, dried, and then stored in linen bags or sealed dishes.

What not to do on the feast of Panteleimon the Healer

In Russia, Panteleimon the Healer was associated with a number of prohibitions, the main of which was the refusal to help the suffering. Indifference towards the sick, elderly or poor contradicted the essence of the holiday, dedicated to mercy and the image of a healer. Such behavior, according to legend, could deprive a person of the patronage of St. Panteleimon and bring on troubles and illnesses.

What else is forbidden to do on August 9th:

• quarreling, swearing and humiliating others — anger can "attract" trouble and losses.;
• neglect your own health — an ignored deterioration in well-being can lead to serious illness;
• Mistreat animals — causing unnecessary harm to a living being will result in illnesses and failures.

Folk signs for August 9th

On Panteleimon, the peasants carefully observed nature, dew, insects and birds in order to determine the weather for the coming days by signs and to understand whether the autumn coolness would come early.

• thick dew lies on the grass in the morning — for a clear day and a good harvest.;
• dew appeared or intensified in the evening, and autumn may turn out to be dry.;
• grasshoppers chirp loudly and for a long time — for long hot weather without rain;
• ants are closing the entrances to the anthill — a thunderstorm is approaching;
• Ducks are crying restlessly on the water — it's going to get colder soon;
• By August 9, the cabbage has already curled into strong heads — autumn will come early and it will be cold.;
• the oaks are covered with a large number of acorns — next year promises a rich harvest;
• in the morning, the water in the river is noticeably colder than the air — the summer heat begins to recede;
• birds stay closer to the ground — in case of rain and increased wind;
• The day passed without clouds and with a light wind — the dry weather will continue for several more days.

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