In the specific case of medicine, there are several saints who fit within these definitions. But today, on the subject of Holy Week, we present to you the patron saints of medicine, surgery and dentistry according to this SCIELO article.
These are the patron saints of medicine, surgery and dentistry
Saint Luke, patron saint of physicians in general
Lucas was a doctor born in Antioquia; he is considered the patron saint of physicians in general. In addition to medical sciences, he dedicated himself to the study of letters (he is the author of the books called: Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles) and painting (a painting of the Virgin Mary is attributed to him).
He converted to Christianity around the age of 40 “because of the preaching of his relative Saint Paul, of whom he became a disciple and companion”. He preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in: Italy (Rome), Gaul, Dalmatia, Macedonia, Libya and Greece. He died, hanged for testimony to his faith, in Achaia, at the age of 84; his body was transferred to Constantinople initially and later to Pavia (his head is revered in Rome).
Saints Cosme and Damian, patron saints of surgeons
Doctors Cosme and Damiánd are considered, particularly, patron saints of surgeons. Cosme and Damian were twins born in Cilicia (southern Anatolia, Asia Minor). And medical professionals, practicing on an outpatient basis without charging for their services.
During the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284-305) they were apprehended and tortured (drowning, burning, dislocation, crucifixion, stoning, shooting). This, by order of Lysias, governor of Aegea, and finally beheaded (c. 303 AD, October 17).
His tomb, according to tradition, is in Cirrhus (Syria); they were turned into saints because miraculous cures were attributed to them; following his death, a devotee saw in a dream the transplantation of a lower limb from a black Moorish slave. The Caucasian deacon Justiniano had just died of old age while he slept, following the latter had undergone an infracondylar amputation due to gangrene (what would now be a cadaveric donor homotransplantationh).
Saint Apollonia, patron saint of dentists
Santa Apolonia is considered the patron saint of dentists; Apollonia was born in Alexandria in the year 200; in 216 she received baptism and became a preacher, practicing as such for 33 years in the Catechesis of Alexandria (called Didascalia)-
In 231 she joined the shortlist together with Origen and Dionysus to lead the Didascalia (the choice fell on Dionysus and not on Apollonia due to her status as a woman, the same thing happened in the year 247).
In 249, under the reign of Decius (248-251), she was captured and subjected to torture on suspicion of attempting once morest Rome. During the process, she had her teeth destroyed with a stone and, intending to burn her alive, she jumped into the bonfire voluntarily. However, because the flames did not consume her, they ended up slitting her throat. Her teeth were collected as relics and her head is found, inside a bust, in the church of Santa Maria Trastevere in Rome; she was canonized in the year 299 by Pope Marcellinus, her feast day is February 9, considered the Day of the Dentist.
