Introduction: A Roman general and imperial prefect of Roman Egypt during the reign of Constantius II, Artemios of Antioch may be better known for his martyrdom under Julian the Apostate and his subsequent canonization. Based on a seventh century account of healing miracles attributed to him, St. Artemios plays an important role in Byzantine Christian incubation rituals and is still invoked in the Orthodox Church by those suffering from hernias. Given that many of these accounts concern genital maladies, we aim to further explore the circumstances surrounding the treatment of these ailments as well as the relationship of medicine and faith during that time. Methods: An initial Google search was conducted to identify existing digital and written source material regarding St. Artemios. Hagiographical primary source material from the Miracles of St. Artemios was used to compile a database of each miraculous encounter, including demographic information regarding the afflicted person(s), their respective complaint, the medium in which the saint was manifested, and his prescribed treatment. Results: 41 out of 45 healing encounters (91%) involved a urologic issue, from inguinal hernias and testicular pain to penile sores. From those 41 encounters, 97% of afflicted persons were male, with ages ranging from neonatal to 70 years old. The most common manifestation of St. Artemios was in a dream to the infirm or their loved one (78%), either disguised or as himself. In six encounters, St. Artemios appears in a dream or as a physical apparition in the guise of a physician. Treatments of genital maladies included medical interventions (hernia reduction, incision and drainage) and nonmedical interventions (votive offering, making a sign of the cross). All examples of healing either took place within the Church of St. John the Baptist in Oxeia or when the supplicant was en route to aforementioned place. Several encounters tell of the infirm seeking St. Artemios after failing medical treatment, with miracles 24-31 specifically containing invectives against doctors and surgeons in favor of faith-based healing. Conclusions: While the healing encounters of St. Artemios have certainly given him the reputation as the patron saint of genital and testicular maladies, they also illustrate the importance of the saint’s respective church for Christian incubation and the complex relationship between Hippocratic medicine and faith-based healing in medieval Byzantium. SOURCE OF Funding: None
