St Panteleimon and St Herman of Alaska

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ… today is a very special day of commemorations.

            The first saint whom we commemorate today is the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon. St Panteleimon was born to a Christian mother, St Eubola, and a pagan father, Eustorgius. His father sent him to study medicine under the renowned physician Euphrosynus. St Panteleimon excelled in his studies and the Emperor Maximian heard of him and sought to appoint him as the royal physician.

            Though offered all the success and goods of this world, St Panteleimon dedicated his life to serving the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned – healing them without charge in the name of his Lord Jesus Christ.

The envy of the powerful of this world was provoked by his unmercenary kindness and he was soon brought before the Emperor who demanded that he offer sacrifice to the idols. St Panteleimon refused to offer sacrifice and was sentenced to be tortured and killed. During the torture, St Panteleimon remained calm and continued to pray. When one of the guards attempted to strike him with a sword, the sword melted like wax as it neared his body. A heavenly voice called out, inviting St Panteleimon into the heavenly kingdom… he lowered his head before the executioners and was then beheaded.

St. Panteleimon is honored for his mercy, healing, and steadfast witness, compassion, and courage in the face of persecution. He is depicted in his icon bearing a box of medicines and holding a spoon with which to administer healing. St Panteleimon is a favorite intercessor for all those who are sick and suffering from both physical and spiritual pain. Through the prayers of our holy father, the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, may God have mercy on us!

            The second commemoration which we observe today is the anniversary of the glorification of our holy father and wonderworker St Herman of Alaska. This glorification, in which the humble hermit of Alaska was declared a saint by the church, took place in 1970 right here at our Cathedral in San Francisco.

            For a month before the canonization of St Herman of Alaska itself, memorial services were celebrated for the repose of the ever-memorable elder in all churches of the San Francisco Archdiocese after every service. Our Archbishop Antony had made a pilgrimage to Alaska some months before the canonization to quietly pray before the relics of St Herman and to ask him to bless us for this event. Several days before the canonization itself, hierarchs and faithful from all around the world converged upon San Francisco for this blessed event.

            At the All-Night Vigil, the first sticheron to St Herman was sung, which proclaimed: ‘Leap up, ye waters of Valaam, be jubilant ye islands of Alaska, sing, ye peoples of the New World, let heaven and earth rejoice; for he who conversed with angels is glorified, and to the ends of the universe the right faith is proclaimed and we shall sing out in a great voice to Christ our God: By the prayers of our Father Herman, O Lord, save our souls.’

How marvelous it is that this simple monk, living in obscurity on a little island off the coast of Kodiak, with his glorification has become known throughout the world as great saint and intercessor before God. Always humble, St Herman was able to penetrate to the very heart of things as his conversation with a group of sailors clearly illustrates. He asked them: ‘Gentlemen, what do you love above all, and what will each of you wish for your happiness?’ Each of the sailors had various answers… wishing for riches, a beautiful wife, a ship of their own, etc.. Fr Herman replied to these various desires expressed, saying: ‘Is it not true, that all your various wishes can bring us to one conclusion — that each of you desires that which in his own understanding he considers the best, and which is most worthy of his love?’ They all answered: ‘Yes, that is so!’

He then continued, ‘Would you not all say, is not that which is best, above all, and surpassing all, and that which by preference is most worthy of love - the Very Lord, our Jesus Christ, who created us, adorned us with such ideals, gave life to all, sustains everything, nurtures and loves all, who is Himself Love and most beautiful of all men? Should we not then love God above everything, desire Him more than anything, and search Him out?’

They all agreed. Then the Elder asked, ‘But do you love God?’ They all answered, ‘Certainly we love God. How can we not love God?’ Yet Fr Herman confessed to them: ‘And I a sinner have been trying for more than forty years to love God, but I cannot say that I love Him completely.’ He then began to demonstrate to them the way in which we should love God. ‘If we love someone,’ he said, ‘we always remember them; we try to please them. Day and night our heart is concerned with the subject. Is that the way you gentlemen love God? Do you turn to Him often? Do you always remember Him? Do you always pray to Him and fulfill His holy commandments?’ They had to admit that they had not! The holy elder then concluded: ‘For our own good, and for our own fortune, let us at least promise ourselves that, from this day, from this hour, from this very minute, we will try to love God more than anything and to fulfill His holy will!’

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ… how might you answer this question put before you by the humble St Herman? What holds the first place in your heart? What do you love the most? And, truly, what is more worthy of our love and devotion and gratitude than God Himself? Through the prayers of our holy father and wonderworker Herman, who was glorified on this day 56 years ago… from this day, from this hour, from this moment, let us strive with all of our heart and mind and strength to love God above all else and to fulfill His holy will!