Zenaida, Philonella, and Hermione were three early Christian women who are commemorated in the Orthodox Church as the first “unmercenary physicians”- Christian medical doctors who offered their skill to everyone and refused to accept payment.

According to Orthodox tradition, Zenaida and Philonella were sisters, born into a well-educated and wealthy Jewish family in the city of Tarsus. They were baptized by their brother Jason after his conversi…