The Orthodox like building churches. Big and small alike. The newest one in our city is a Church of St Panteleimon (Kisha Shen Pandelimoni). I was curious, who this saint was, and found out he was a Christian physician of IVth century, martyred for healing the sick by calling on the name of Jesus Christ. Great, I thought.
And then I kept on reading the recounts of his death: "Pantaleon's flesh was first burned with torches, whereupon Christ appreared to all in the form of Hermolaus (another saint) to strengthen and heal Pantaleon... Then a bath of molten lead was prepared; when the apparition of Christ stepped into the cauldron with him, the fire went out and the lead became cold... He was thrown to wild beasts, but these fawned upon him and could not be forced away until he had blessed them... An attempt was made to behead him, but the sword turned into wax and melted, and the executioners were converted to Christianity... It was not until he himself desired it that it was possible to behead him, upon which there issued forth blood and white liquid like milk."
In case you were interested, his head is located on the island of Andros, Greece, at the Panachrantos monastery, and, on occassions, is taken to other monasteries for veneration.
If you are looking for his icon to kiss, kiss one of "a beardless young man with a full head of curly hair."
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