The Deacon

One of my favorite Eastern saints, one who is not as popular in the West, is St. Pantaleon. Before he was martyred in A.D. 305, he worked as a physician and attempted to bring about healing from suffering in the early Church. He was what we in the East call an “unmercenary,” someone who did not take money for his healing services. I think that his life and his ministry have a lot to teach us about the role of healing in the diaconate.

St. Pantaleon was born in 275 to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and he trained as a physician throughout his early years. He was so effective that the Emperor Maximian appointed him as his personal physician.

I am sure you can imagine what went on in the imperial court of Rome at this time, and so it is no great surprise that Pantaleon fell away from his Christian faith and became a pagan. There is an important lesson here for deacons: We should not underestimate the influence of environment on one’s faith. Even in my life there has been an ebb and flow of my fervency based on those who are around me and the influences that I expose myself to. As deacons, we shouldn’t be quick to judge people who have left the Faith, but rather be ready to console them when they return.

Bringing Christ to the Suffering

This is what happened to St. Pantaleon when he encountered a priest named Hermolaus. Throughout his conversations with the priest, he was reminded of his old faith and the faith of his mother. When he returned, his urgency was so strong that he would convert his father on his deathbed and give his inheritance to the poor. Pantaleon would go on to provide medical care for the poor and needy at no cost. While this is impressive enough, it’s even more impressive when you think about third-century medicine. At the time, many medical practices incorporated magic or pagan rites, but Pantaleon would not have done these things. As a result, we can assume that much of Pantaleon’s work revolved around spending time with those who were sick, praying with them and healing them in scientific ways.

St. Pantaleon was so thoroughly reconvinced in the Christian faith that he would not return to paganism even under threat of martyrdom. He stood strong throughout the Diocletian persecution. He visited those who were persecuted, journeyed with them and eventually died with them.

We, as deacons, are in a unique position to be St. Pantaleons to those in our parishes. We do not provide the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, but we are often the ones tasked with going to the sick and suffering to bring them the Eucharist. I wonder if we ever pray for those who are suffering to be healed. I wonder if we ever sit and listen to those who are suffering and ask them if there is anything we can pray for or help them with. If we attempt to be St. Pantaleon to those around us, we need to take the time to do so. We need to not forget those who are easily forgotten.

St. Pantaleon, pray to God for us!

FATHER DEACON BASIL RYAN BALKE is a Byzantine deacon, licensed professional counselor; director of Mount Tabor Counseling, mounttaborcounseling.com; and director of custom solutions for the Center for InMinistry Development, inministrydevelopment.com. He serves as a deacon of the Eparchy of Phoenix.