Rediscovering the Holy Unmercenary Healers: A Legacy of Christian Herbal Medicine
The Roots of Christian Herbal Medicine and the Ministry of Healing
When we think about herbal medicine today, the conversation often feels divided. Some Christians are uncertain if it belongs in the life of faith, while in the wider herbal world, the practice is often presented through secular or even spiritual frameworks that do not align with the Gospel. Yet history tells us something very different: herbal medicine has always had a place in the Christian tradition.
This year at the Christian Herbalist Guild Conference, we are honored to feature Vas Avramidis, founder of both the Christian Herbalist Guild and the School of Christian Herbalism. At this year’s conference, Vas will present on the history of Christian herbal medicine and the witness of the Holy Unmercenary Healers. His talk will guide you through centuries of Christian healing, demonstrating how herbal medicine was never excluded from the Church, but deeply rooted within it.
Who were the Holy Unmercenary Healers?
In the early centuries of the Church, the Holy Unmercenaries were healers who cared for the sick without charging for their services. They freely gave of their time, skills, and knowledge, seeing their healing work as a ministry of Christ. For them, medicine was never about personal gain. It was about serving the suffering in the name of the true Physician of souls and bodies.
These healers used prayer and herbs to ease their patients’ suffering. Their witness reminds us that herbal medicine, practiced with humility and faith, can be an act of Christian love.
Why this history matters for us today
For many of us, whether professionals, students, or passionate hobbyists, the question of how to faithfully integrate herbalism with Christianity is important. Vas’s presentation will help answer that question by showing:
- Healing as discipleship: Herbal medicine, when practiced as Christians, is more than technical skill—it’s part of living out the Gospel.
- Mercy over profit: The Holy Unmercenaries remind us that true healing is not driven by greed or self-promotion, but by generosity and love.
- A preserved tradition: Throughout history, the Church safeguarded herbal knowledge, ensuring medicine remained linked to faith rather than separated from it.
This talk is not just a historical survey. It’s a challenge to recover a Christ-centered approach to herbal practice today—one that keeps prayer, mercy, and faith at the center.
Why you should attend
If you’re a professional herbalist, this session will give you the historical and theological grounding to root your practice in the Christian tradition with confidence. If you’re a student or hobbyist, you’ll find encouragement to grow in both skill and faith. And for everyone, it’s a call to see herbal medicine not as something separate from the Church, but as a ministry of mercy that points back to Christ.
Join Us at the Conference
The Christian Herbalist Guild Conference 2025 is the only event that brings together Christian herbalists from across the country to learn, grow, and strengthen one another in faith and practice.
- Register for the Conference: Click here to secure your spot.
- Become a Guild Member: Membership gives you access to this year’s conference plus every past conference recording, workshops, and a vibrant community of professional and aspiring herbalists. Learn more and join here.
This is more than an event. It’s an opportunity to rediscover the Christian roots of herbal medicine and carry this legacy forward in your work and ministry.