According to the martyrologies, St. Pantaleon was the son of a wealthy pagan, Eustorgius of Nicomedia. His mother, St. Eubula, had taught him about Christianity, but he fell away from the Christian faith after her death. He studied medicine with Euphrosinos, a renowned physician, and eventually became the emperor Galerius' physician. St. Hermolaus was instrumental in converting Pantaleon back to Christianity. He convinced him that Christ was the ultimate healer and emphasized the significance of following faith before seeking medical advice.
Saint Pantaleon converted his father by miraculously healing a blind man by invoking the name of Jesus over him. Upon his father's death, he came into possession of a large fortune. He liberated his slaves and earned a stellar reputation in Nicomedia by giving away his wealth to the underprivileged. During the Diocletian persecution, jealous coworkers accused him before the emperor. To save him, the emperor tried to convince him to renounce his faith. Pantaleon, however, publicly acknowledged his religion and performed a miracle on a paralyzed man to prove that Christ was the true God.
Despite this, the emperor executed him because he saw the miracle as a demonstration of magic. The effort to behead him failed when the sword bent, and the executioners were converted to Christianity. Pantaleon implored God to forgive them, so he received the name of Panteleimon, which means "mercy for everyone." It wasn't until he himself desired that it was possible to behead him, upon which blood and a milk-like white liquid came out.
St. Pantaleon, pray that we will follow and uphold the teachings of the Catholic faith throughout our lives.
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