The orthodox Christian world has a tradition of Holy Unmercenary Physicians. These holy men and women practiced Christian medicine and healed the sick without charge. The healing methods they used were a combination of prayer and clinical medicine, but never disdained the use of pharmaceuticals or traditional medical practices.
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St. Demetrius
In his life, St. Demetrius experienced many things that were unique to a Christian. He had a profound understanding of the underlying reality of life. As a result, he preferred to teach the Word of God rather than the worldly things that are often associated with Christianity. His teachings brought many pagans to the faith.
Demetrius had a heavenly dwelling. His walls had been ordained by the invisible God. He had to struggle greatly to build this temple, but the end result was worth it. It was full of miracles and healing for all afflictions. In addition, Demetrius is extolled as a saint of all afflictions.
St. Raphael
Raphael, an orthodox saint of healing, is an angel of healing in the Orthodox Church. His Hebrew name, Rafa’El, means “God has healed,” and his feast day is November 8. He is known to be a spiritual guide for travelers and the protector of weddings. He is mentioned only once in the Holy Scriptures, in the Book of Tobit.
Raphael’s primary focus is on helping people grow closer to God. He is particularly interested in spiritual healing, which involves overcoming the bad attitudes and actions that prevent one from reaching God’s peace. By bringing these sins to people’s awareness, Raphael can motivate them to repent and make amends. He also helps people develop healthy habits and change harmful thought patterns.
St. Luke
The history of St. Luke, an Orthodox saint healer, dates back to the eighth century. The son of a Roman Catholic and an Orthodox Christian, St. Luke was born in 896. During his youth, he demonstrated a strong desire to live a contemplative life. He was often seen abstaining from meat, eggs, cheese, and other delicacies, and he also kept total fasts on Wednesday. He also often gave away clothing to the poor, including the seed needed to plant fields.
In addition to being an Orthodox saint healer, St. Luke was a prominent hierarch of the Church. He reopened many churches closed by the Communists and produced theological works that drew many to Orthodoxy. His loving care for his patients saved thousands of lives. In fact, his research techniques were so successful, they were still being used fifty years later.
St. Blaise
Saint Blaise is a great intercessor for throat diseases. According to traditional legend, he prayed for a child with a throat illness and was granted a cure. His intercession has been invoked for similar illnesses as well. He is also invoked for protection and peace.
Born into a noble family, Blaise grew up as a Christian and became a bishop. In the year 300 ce, Christianity was already adopted as the state religion in Armenia. However, the persecution against Christians began during the reign of Roman emperor Licinius. As a result, Blaise was arrested. However, he miraculously cured a sick boy. Later, he was beheaded.
St. Nektarios
The Greek Orthodox Saint Nektarios was known as the Wonderworker. One of his miracles was the restoration of life to a paralytic man. His first healing miracle occurred while he was preparing to be transferred to the island of Aegina. The nursing staff accidentally touched his body with a sweater, and the paralytic began to regain strength. Eventually, he was recognized as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day on Nov. 9 and his life story is told in his book, St. Nektarios: The Saint of Our Century
The life of Saint Nektarios is a story of faith and prayer. He preferred solitude, but often encountered the Virgin Mary. He also taught nuns to rely on God and give to the poor. He was also once afflicted with cystitis, and he thanked God for testing him.
