Barbers / Cosmas and Damian, d. 303, Feast Day: September 26

Twin brothers in Syria who were both holy healers, Cosmas and Damian were martyred and buried together. Devout Christians, they never accepted money for their medical treatments of people and animals. They are patrons of barbers because, in ancient times, barbers performed surgery. In Florence during the Renaissance, the Medici family adopted them as patrons and named their children after them.

Other patronages: Florence, Prague; hospitals; candy makers, chemical workers, dentists, eye doctors, druggists, midwives, surgeons

Invoked: against bladder disease, gangrene, glandular inflammation, indigestion, kidney disease