On July 27, along with St. Clement of Ohrid and the Seven Saints (known as Sveti Sedmochislenitsi), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of Greatmartyr St. Panteleimon. His name means "all-compassionate". The saint was known among people as a healer, selflessly helping the poor and ill.
After accepting Christianity he received the gift of healing and doing miracles. St. Panteleimon was killed after severe torture in 305 during the reign of Emperor Maximilian.
Today many Bulgarian churches and monasteries bear the name of St. Panteleimon. The saint is also a patron of a large number of hospitals, medical centers and other health facilities.
In folk beliefs he is also known as Pantelei, Pantelei Traveler and others. In the past people thought that on the day of St. Panteleimon storks started gathering in flocks to prepare for a long flight to warm countries.
It is also believed that St. Panteleimon protects people from diseases and can cure the sick. On this day, In Strandzha the sick used to light candles on fig trees and collected the dew from the leaves to drink it for health. In the region of Belogradchik people believed that on this day they could drive away infectious diseases such as plague and measles.
Folk beliefs related to the saint also include the popular notion that he is the patron saint of summer storms, torrential rains and floods. That is why he is also called "Water Pantelei". In the past, women prepared cakes and distributed them in his honor so that there would be no hail, storms, floods...
English: Alexander Markov
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