Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer is one of the most beloved saints in the Christian world, to whom millions of believers pray daily for healing from severe physical and spiritual illnesses. Being a physician during his earthly life, he treated the poor without charge. After his martyrdom, he received special grace from God to act as a swift helper to the sick, the disabled, the weak, and all who have lost hope for recovery.
On this page, you can read the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon online in English, learn the rules of prayer for the health of loved ones, and download high-quality formatted text files of the Akathist for free to print or read offline.
Who is Saint Panteleimon and Why Do We Pray to Him for Healing?
Saint Panteleimon was born in the 3rd century in Nicomedia (Asia Minor). His father was a pagan, and his mother was a Christian. He studied the medical art from the famous physician Euphrosinus and became the court physician to Emperor Maximian. After meeting the Christian priest Hermolaus, Panteleimon believed in Christ when he witnessed the invocation of Jesus Christ’s name resurrect a child bitten by a venomous viper.
He dedicated his entire life to unmercenary service: treating everyone for free, visiting prisoners in dungeons, and distributing his inheritance to the poor. For this, envious doctors denounced him to the emperor. Panteleimon courageously endured brutal torture for Christ and was beheaded in 305 AD. During his execution, the dry olive tree to which he was bound immediately blossomed and bore fruit, and milk flowed from his wounds instead of blood.
In What Matters Does the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon Help?
Believers turn to the Great Martyr Panteleimon for spiritual support and assistance in:
- Healing from Grave & Incurable Diseases: Fervent prayers are offered for cancer patients, those in recovery, and the paralyzed.
- Help Before Surgeries & Medical Procedures: Petitions are made to bless the hands of surgeons and ensure successful treatment.
- Soothing Bodily Suffering & Pain: Praying for relief of pain for those heavily afflicted and the dying.
- Strengthening Spiritual Resolve: Helping overcome despair, depression, and hopelessness during prolonged illness.
- Blessing the Labor of Doctors & Nurses: Saint Panteleimon is the chief patron saint of all healthcare workers.
AKATHIST TO THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR AND HEALER PANTELEIMON
Kontakion 1
Chosen passion-bearer of Christ and gracious healer, who freely grantest healing to the sick, we praise thee with songs, O our protector. As thou hast boldness toward the Lord, deliver us from all dangers and illnesses, who cry to thee with love: Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Ikos 1
We know thee, glorious Panteleimon, as an earthly angel and heavenly man. For adorned with angelic purity and martyrdom thou hast passed from earth to Heaven, where with the angels and all the saints standing before the throne of the Lord of Glory, thou prayest for all of us on earth who venerate thee with these invocations:
Rejoice, torch of piety; rejoice, most glorious lamp of the Church.
Rejoice, adornment of venerable martyrs; rejoice, support of the faithful in endurance.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 2
Beholding the radiance of grace and wealth of virtues in thee—thine angelic purity, thy great courage in cruel sufferings, and thy strong love for Christ—we marvel at the power of God dwelling in thee, and we sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Possessing divinely inspired knowledge, O valiant warrior Panteleimon, thou didst astound the Emperor Maximian by the courage of thy soul and by the words with which thou didst fearlessly preach Christ. Whereframe, praising thy boldness, we say to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst despise Maximian’s threats; rejoice, thou who didst not yield to the advice of the godless.
Rejoice, propagator of true adoration; rejoice, confuter of demonic deception.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 3
By the power of the Most High given to thee and by thy strong patience, thou didst render powerless the torturer’s insolence, O valiant victor, undaunted by fire, wild beasts, and the wheel. When beheaded with the sword, thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom, singing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Fervent with zeal for God, thou didst listen to the teachings of the priest Hermolaus and the holy advice of thy mother Eubula. Having distributed all thy earthly wealth to the poor, thou didst acquire Christ. Therefore, we cry aloud to thee:
Rejoice, thou who art ever aflame with the fire of divine love; rejoice, companion of those who suffer.
Rejoice, free physician of the sick; rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of mercy.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 4
The ungodly emperor was filled with rage upon learning from envious physicians that thou didst heal all kinds of incurable illnesses solely by invoking the name of Jesus Christ. But we, glorifying the wonderful God in thee, cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Hearing that the blind receive sight and the paralyzed are restored by thy prayers, many turned from idols to the true God. Celebrating thy gracious gift of healing, we say:
Rejoice, unmercenary healer of the ailing; rejoice, stream of blessings flowing abundantly.
Rejoice, sight for the blind; rejoice, strength for the lame and weak.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 5
A wonderful and glorious miracle did the Lord perform through thee when, by thy prayer, He raised a child bitten by a venomous viper, leading thee to receive holy Baptism. Gratefully singing to the Savior, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Beholding the light of true faith, thy father Secundus also believed in Christ after seeing thee restore sight to a blind man. Together with him, we glorify thy great faith and say to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst bring thy father to the light of faith; rejoice, thou who didst dispel the darkness of polytheism.
Rejoice, beholder of celestial glory; rejoice, intercessor for our salvation.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 6
Boldly didst thou declare the name of the Lord before the tribunal of the torturers, thrice-blessed martyr, saying: ‘My all-healing power and glory is Christ, the true God, Who raises the dead and heals all infirmities.’ Singing to Him, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Standing before the judges as an invincible soldier of the Heavenly King, thou didst courageously endure terrible tortures on the rack, burning by fire, and boiling lead. Glorifying thy longsuffering endurance, we sing:
Rejoice, strong diamond of the Church; rejoice, immovable pillar of faith.
Rejoice, thou who didst tame wild beasts by thy meekness; rejoice, thou who didst crush invisible dragons by thy prayer.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 7
Great mercy did the Lord show to thee when, during thy tortures, He appeared to strengthen thee and heal thy wounds. With thanksgiving we sing to God Who glorifies His saints: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
We recognize thee as a new and wonderful healer, Panteleimon, for thou healest not by human art but by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thy name means ‘all-merciful’, and thou dynamically pourest out mercy upon all who sing to thee:
Rejoice, comfort of the poor and sorrowful; rejoice, protector of orphans and widows.
Rejoice, physician of our souls and bodies; rejoice, our heavenly defender.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 8
A strange wonder do we see in thee, blessed martyr: when thou wast beheaded, milk flowed instead of blood, and the dry olive tree to which thou wast bound immediately blossomed and bore healing fruit. We sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
The whole world marvels at thy glory, Saint Panteleimon. Thy precious head is a great treasure for the faithful, pouring out fragrant myrrh and granting healing to all who cry out with faith:
Rejoice, through whom Satan was put to shame; rejoice, through whom Christ is glorified.
Rejoice, heir of the Kingdom of Heaven; rejoice, partaker of eternal glory.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 9
All our illnesses do thou heal, O merciful physician Panteleimon, and soothe our spiritual sorrows, so that we may gratefully sing to God Who gave thee such grace: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
The falsely theorizing orators of the ungodly are put to shame by thee, divinely wise Father Panteleimon. We, strengthened by thee in Orthodoxy, cry:
Rejoice, shield of Christian piety; rejoice, sword that cuts down false teachings.
Rejoice, defender of God’s commandments; rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 10
Desiring to save the world from sin and sickness, the Lord gave us thee as a merciful healer and protector. Fleeing under thy shelter, we sing with love to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Be a strong wall and reliable defense for us, Saint Panteleimon, from the designs of enemies, from infections, epidemics, and incurable diseases, so that we may ever joyfully proclaim to thee:
Rejoice, protector from sudden death; rejoice, hope of the ailing and dying.
Rejoice, strong defender against visible and invisible enemies; rejoice, giver of peace and quietness.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 11
Grateful praises do we offer to thee, holy great martyr, for thy boundless love and free assistance. Celebrating thy holy memory, we sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
A radiant ray of Divine grace art thou to us who are in the darkness of illness and sins. Lead us to the Sun of Righteousness, Christ, that we may gratefully sing to thee:
Rejoice, bright star shining in the heavens; rejoice, guide to the salvation of our souls.
Rejoice, meek shepherd of Christ’s sheep; rejoice, our great intercessor.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 12
Ask for us the grace of healing and consolation from the Lord, glorious physician. We believe that thou hast great boldness before God, and with hope we sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Singing of thy martyr’s death and glorious miracles, we praise thee, all-good Panteleimon, as our fervent intercessor and healer, and with joy we sing to thee:
Rejoice, triumpher over the forces of evil; rejoice, crowned with an incorruptible crown.
Rejoice, for thy relics pour out fragrance; rejoice, for thy name brings joy to the faithful.
Rejoice, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Kontakion 13
O longsuffering and wonderful Great Martyr of Christ and Healer Panteleimon! Graciously accept from us this small offering, heal us of our many and various ailments, and through your intercession protect us from enemies visible and invisible and pray to the Lord that we may be delivered from eternal torment, that we may continually sing in His Kingdom: Alleluia!
A PRAYER TO THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR AND HEALER PANTELEIMON
Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, thou imitator of God’s mercy! Look down in thy loving kindness and hearken unto us, sinners, who offer heartfelt prayers before thy holy icon. Ask for us from the Lord God, before Whom the Angels stand in heaven, remission of our sins and transgressions. Heal the ills of body and soul of the servants of God whom we here commemorate, who are here present, and of all Orthodox Christians who seek thy help. For we, because of our sins, are beset by many diseases and have no help or comfort; but we flee unto thee, as we have been given grace to pray for us and heal every disease and every sickness. Grant unto all of us, through thy holy prayers, health of body and soul, progress in faith and piety, and all things necessary for temporal life and salvation. So that, having been vouchsafed great mercy through thee, we may glorify thee and the Giver of all good, Who is wondrous in His Saints, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
How to Pray the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon: 5 Key Rules
To seek the blessing of healing and spiritual strength, follow these recommended practices:
- Pray with Faith and Patience. Healing of the body is often linked to the healing of the soul, so offer your prayer with humility and trust in God’s will.
- Commit to a 40-Day Prayer Rule. During times of severe illness, it is a traditional Orthodox practice to read the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon daily for 40 consecutive days.
- Utilize Holy Water and Oil. If possible, light a vigil lamp before the saint’s icon while praying. After the prayer, consume holy water or gently apply blessed oil (unction oil) to the afflicted areas.
- Seek Forgiveness. Physical healing is deeply connected to a state of peace. Before you pray, sincerely forgive those who have offended you and ask God to pardon your transgressions.
- Offer a Prayer of Thanksgiving. When healing or relief is granted, remember to read a prayer of thanksgiving or perform an act of charity in gratitude.
Download the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon for Free
You can download the beautifully formatted complete text of the Akathist for print or offline reading below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Saint Panteleimon’s Akathist
1. Can I read the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon during Great Lent?
Yes, for private home prayer, there are no restrictions on praying for the health of your loved ones or reading the Akathist during Great Lent. It is highly encouraged to offer intercessory prayers at any time.
2. What if the patient is too ill to pray by themselves?
If the sick person is unable to pray, their relatives, family members, or friends can read the Akathist on their behalf, mentioning their name in the final prayers. Sincere collective prayer carries immense spiritual power.
3. Is standing mandatory when reading the Akathist for healing?
Standing is the traditional posture to express reverence. However, if you are praying while sick, weak, elderly, or pregnant, you are fully permitted to read the Akathist while seated or even lying down. God looks at the sincerity of the heart.