Anargyroi

/ænərˈdʒɪroʊi/ noun

Definition

Plural of 'anargyros'; in Christian tradition, saints who practiced charity without accepting payment, especially medical saints who healed without charge.

Etymology

From Greek 'an-' (not) + 'argyros' (silver/money), meaning 'without money.' The term comes from early Christian hagiography describing holy figures who rejected wealth and gave freely.

Kelly Says

The 'anargyroi' were Christian doctors who refused payment for healing—Saint Cosmas and Damian are the most famous examples—and this Greek term literally means 'the ones without silver.' It's beautiful that a single word captures an entire spiritual ideal of selfless service that was so important to early Christian culture.

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