The saint, born Panteleon, grew up in a privileged home. His father was a wealthy pagan, while his mother, Saint Evvula, was a Christian. She raised him in the faith, though she departed to the Lord early in her son’s life. Panteleimon, originally named Panteleon, received a fine education in medicine and became the court physician to Emperor Maximian.
Through God's providence, secret Christian presbyters — Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates — took notice of the great martyr. They spoke with him about the Christian faith. One day, walking home, Panteleon discovered a dead child, struck down by a venomous viper's bite. He lifted his voice to God, asking for the child’s life to be restored and the snake destroyed, promising to be baptised if his prayer was answered. A miracle happened — the child came back to life, and the snake was torn apart. Soon after, Saint Hermolaus baptised Panteleon, who took the name Panteleimon. After many talks about faith, the martyr's father was also baptised.
When his father died, Panteleimon gave himself wholly to healing the sick. Countless miracles flowed through his prayers: blind eyes reopened, paralysed limbs moved again. He called on Jesus Christ and never took payment for his work. Jealous rivals told the emperor that Panteleimon was a Christian. The saint showed no fear before the ruler, confessing his faith openly and performing a miracle by healing a paralysed man. He said, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, rise and be healed,” and the man stood up. This miracle did not soften the ruler’s heart — he had the healed man slain and ordered Panteleimon tortured.
During his suffering, Panteleimon prayed, “Lord Jesus Christ! Be with me now, give me strength to endure this pain to the end!” At once a voice rang out: "Fear not, I am with you." To strengthen him, God appeared as Hermolaus, giving him courage. No matter how he was tortured — torn with hooks, burned, thrown into molten tin, or cast into the sea — he remained alive and unharmed each time. When they threw him to wild beasts, the animals licked his feet and touched his hand. Witnessing the gentleness of these creatures, onlookers glorified the Christian God, for which they, too, were put to death by the emperor’s order.
The furious Maximian ordered even the animals to be slain, to which the saint responded, “Glory to you, Christ God, for even animals die for you!” They tried to behead the saint, yet each time the sword softened as though made of wax, leaving him unharmed. Then a voice from Heaven called the martyr by name and summoned him to the Kingdom of Heaven. The soldiers standing by refused to carry out the deed. Yet the martyr pressed them to finish what they had started, and the men agreed through their tears. After the beheading, milk flowed from the wound. The olive tree where Panteleimon had been bound suddenly burst into blossom and bore fresh, wondrous fruit. This miracle brought many souls to faith. The saint’s body was buried when pagans failed to burn it.
