Who has a birthday today, November 1?

S t. Kozma and Damyan were brothers. They were born in the province of Asia Dictionary, Asia Minor. His father was pagan and his mother Theodotia professed the Christian faith. Her husband died early and the young widow lived a pious life, following the advice of Saint Apostle. Paul: “The true widow trusts God and abides in prayers and prayers day and night.” Theodotia taught her children to lead a godly life, taught them to fear God, and advised them to establish themselves in Christian virtues. Kozma and Damyan from an early age went to bed to obey God’s law. When they grew up, they shone with their good deeds like two lights. To be useful to their neighbor, they set out to study the art of medicine; He studied the magical properties of various herbs and became famous as physicians. The Lord Jesus blessed the two doctors and gave them miraculous healing powers. The brothers were very modest. They did not seek earthly glory and greatness, or riches. They did not take money or gifts from the healed, strictly following the Savior’s counsel to the apostles: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers … receive freely, give freely” (Matt. 10: 8). Due to their self-denial, the Holy Church calls them “silversmiths.” A Christian named Palladia, who had been ill for many years and spent much of her property on doctors, found out about these doctors and sent people to call them to cure her. S t. Kozma and Damyan complied with her request, visited her home, prayed for her, and cured her of a serious illness. Delighted, she asked to be rewarded. They refused. However, she insisted that one of them accept at least three eggs in honor of the Holy Trinity. The younger brother, Saint Damien, because she swore to it in the name of the Holy Trinity, accepted the modest gift: the three eggs. When the older brother learned later that Saint Damien had broken his promise to God not to accept any gift to heal, he ordered the Christians not to bury them in a grave after his death. Damien, as a violator of the vow, will be buried separately. Saint Cosme was the first to die. When Saint Damien also died, the Christians considered that the order of Saint Cosmas was too strict and did not comply with it. Like brothers who performed a feat and achieved the same holiness, they were buried in a tomb. Later, a temple was built over this tomb, in which many miracles were performed through his intercession.
© Lives of the Saints. Synodal Publishing House, Sofia, 1991, edited by Partenio, Bishop of Lefkada and Archimandrite Dr. Athanasius (Bonchev).