Pantaleon
Christian martyr and saint (c.275-305)
Feast: 27 July (1962 Missal) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Pantaleon died a martyr around 305. The legend says he was the son of a rich pagan of Nicomedia and a Christian mother, drifted from the faith, became physician to the emperor Maximian, and was won back to Christ by the priest Hermolaus.
Denounced by envious colleagues in Diocletian's persecution, he openly confessed his faith and healed a paralytic to show that Christ is the true God. The emperor condemned him, calling it magic, and he was put to death after tortures that the legend says did him no harm.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: Pantaleon has been honoured as a martyr since the early centuries, especially in the East. He is a patron of physicians.
Why that counted as sanctity
Pantaleon, a physician who had strayed, returned to Christ, served the sick and gave his life for his faith.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Pantaleon
- Wikidata Q378656 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Saint Pantaleon (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.