Feast Day: October 11th
The Life of Saint Zenaida and Saint Philonella: After their Baptism, the two gave themselves over more fully to the study of medicine and began to apply Christian principles and ideas to medical philosophy. They understood that Salvation is a healing process and they were deeply impressed with the realization that Christ healed the whole person, Spiritual and physical, with the presence of the Holy Spirit…
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Prayers
Apolytikion: The greatly-honored Tarsus let us honour, which blossomed forth the precious flowers: Zenais the Wise and Philonilla, for they possessed the unassailable crypt of the Faith, and deposed all the ranks of the demons. They therefore rejoice with the Angels, and ever intercede for us.
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Saint Zenaida and Saint Philonella were the first Christian doctors after the Apostle Luke, and they were the first of those Saints whom we call “Unmercenary Physicians”.
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The disciples of Saint Zenaida reported that her last words in this life were a Prayer for the peace of the world.
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Saint Philonella often said that a peaceful and serene disposition could not only aid in healing but could even prevent illness. For her, the source of true peace was the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
