Understand who Cosme and Damião were: today is a party day

It is celebrated on September 27 throughout Brazil, especially in the Northeast, the feast of São Cosme and São Damião. It was introduced in the country in 1530 in the church of Iguarassu, in Pernambuco. On this day, churches and temples of Afro-Brazilian religions are decorated with flags and cheerful designs. In Candomblé, they are associated with “ibejis”, twins who are friends with children who would have the ability to expedite any request made to them in exchange for sweets and treats. The name Cosme means “the decorated one” and Damião, “the popular one”.

Patronage:

pharmacists

medical faculties

barbers

hairdressers

Protect:

orphanages

day care

sweets

children at home

against hernia

against the plague

Emblem: box with ointments, medicine bottle, palm leaf.

History

Some accounts attest that São Cosimo and São Damião were originally from Arabia and their real names were Acta and Passio. Several versions of its history have emerged, but none has been proven with historical foundation. In one of the sources, it is said that they were good and charitable and that they performed miracles. On charges of witchcraft and enemies of the Roman gods, they were tied up and thrown over a cliff. In another version, they would have been drowned, but saved by angels. Then, taken to the fire, they suffered nothing. Unsuccessfully stoned, they were finally beheaded.

Cosimo and Damian were martyred in Syria and their cult was already established in the Mediterranean in the 5th century. Persecuted by Diocletian, the faithful transported their bodies to Rome, where they were buried in the largest temple dedicated to them, made by Pope Felix IV (526- 30), in the Basilica in the Forum of Rome with the initials SS – Cosimo e Damião.

Many people began to see them materialized after their deaths, helping children who had suffered violence. The Acta twin is attributed the miracle of levitation and the Passio twin is attributed the tranquility of accepting his martyrdom.

From the 5th century onwards, the healing miracles attributed to the twins made them patrons of physicians, as they practiced medicine in Syria, Aegea and Asia Minor while still alive, without receiving any payment. That is why they were called poor saints or anargyros, that is, enemies of money; later, surgeons’ patrons were chosen.

Many efforts have been made to demonstrate that Cosimo and Damian did not in fact exist, that they were just the Christian version of the pagan twin sons of Zeus. This is probably not true, although there is evidence that popular superstition often suggests that their worship was an adaptation of pagan custom.

Prayer to Saint Cosimo and Saint Damian

Beloved Saint Cosimo and Saint Damião,

In the name of the Almighty

I look to you for blessing and love.

With the ability to renew and regenerate,

With the power to annihilate any negative effect

From causes arising

From past and present,

I beg for the perfect repair

of my body and

From my kids

(………………………………………..)Name of children

And my family.

Now and ever,

Wishing the light of the holy twins

Be in my heart!

Vitalize my home

Each day,

Bringing me peace, health and tranquility.

Beloved Saint Cosimo and Damião,

I promise that,

Reaching for grace,

I will never forget them!

So be it,

Hail Saint Cosimo and Damião,

Amen!

Upon reaching grace, bake a cake or throw a party for street children, orphanages or day care centers.

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