From the Prologue of Ochrid
There are three pairs of holy unmercenary physicians by the name of Cosmas and Damian. One pair peacefully reposed on November 1, the second were stoned in Rome on July 1, and this third pair was from Arabia, and it is of them that we speak on today's date. They were physicians by profession; but when they received the Faith of Christ, they healed the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And they became famous everywhere for their wonderworking cures. The malicious pagans seized them and brought them before the governor Lycias in the city of Aegae. Since these holy brothers would not at any price renounce Christ, they were first cast into the sea, and then into fire. But God Almighty saved them both from drowning and from fire. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and saved them. The pagan governor ascribed this to some sorcery of theirs. But they answered him: "We have no sorcery, nor do we need it, but we have the power of Christ, which saves both us and everyone who invokes the most holy name of Christ." Then they were pelted with stones, but the stones bounced off them; they were shot with arrows, but the arrows bounced off them as well. Finally they were beheaded with the sword. Together with them, Saints Leontius, Anthimus and Eutropius also suffered and received the crown of glory. They suffered in the time of Diocletian and Maximian. Many miracles were manifested both from their holy relics and from them while they were alive.
