Oi Anargiri Ritual: A Ritual for Healing
Background Greeks name their children for grandparents and saints. I was lucky. I was named for a grandmother I loved and knew well; she lived with us until she died when I was 8. I am also named for Oi Anargiri, the physician saints and great healers. My father wanted me to be a doctor, but even when I was young, I knew that would not be my path. I do, however, consider myself a healer, and a person always in the process of healing. In the Orthodox tradition, Oi Anargiri were twin saints who healed people and animals. Their names were Cosmas and Damian. Anargiri literally means without silver, indicating that they were physicians who would not take money for their acts of healing. They are celebrated on Nov. 1 and July 1 (depending on which pair you celebrate; I have always celebrated on July 1). These saints healed any living beings they encountered. They did so with great love and gentleness, and always together, though they sometimes disagreed about their methods. ...