Christ Healing the Demoniacs (Decani) Icon - F409

In his ministry, our Lord Jesus many times cast demons out of those who were afflicted. In this fresco from Decani Monastery, we see his miraculous work for the Gergesene (also called the Geresene or Gadarene) demoniacs. This event is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8), but only Saint Matthew mentions two demoniacs, as shown in this icon.

The demons recognized Christ and confessed him as the Son of God, begging him to cast them into a herd of swine rather than into the torments of Hell. He did so, and the demonized pigs drowned themselves in the sea. The healed men then proclaimed the good news of Christ to their town, but out of fear the people begged him to leave their land.

The account of this healing, and other healings of demon possession, are read on many Sundays throughout the year in the Orthodox Church. In this, we are constantly reminded of Christ's power over our supernatural enemies, under whose influence we so often let ourselves fall. By his power, we can maintain our baptismal purity and be delivered from all temptation. Let this icon be a reminder of this power.