Holy Martyr Mamas of Caesarea (†275) and His Parents Theodotus and Rufina (3rd c.) — September 2 / September 15 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 2 according to the Julian Calendar (September 15 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Mamas of Caesarea and his parents, the martyrs Theodotus and Rufina.

The holy martyr Mamas was born in Paphlagonia into the family of pious and noble Christians, Theodotus and Rufina. For their confession of the true God, the pagans seized his parents and imprisoned them in the dungeon of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Knowing his own bodily weakness, Theodotus fervently begged the Lord to receive his soul before he was put to torture. The prayer of the blessed man was heard, and he reposed in the prison itself. Rufina, overcome with grief and at that time with child, gave birth prematurely to a son; she commended him to God and gave up her soul beside her husband. A God-fearing Christian woman named Ammia, who learned of this through a miraculous revelation, buried the holy bodies and took the newborn child with her. At the age of five his foster mother sent him to learn to read and write, and, being exceedingly eager to learn, he surpassed many of his peers in learning.

In those days the impious Aurelian (270–275) ascended the throne. He forced even children to offer sacrifice to the idols, for the cunning tyrant supposed that they would be easy prey on account of their tender age. The children, being truly children, submitted to the will of the wicked ruler, but Mamas, wise in mind, held firmly to the true faith and taught the companions around him to offer their reasonable and spiritual sacrifice to the Almighty God alone. When the governor Democritus was informed of this, the boy was arrested. Because of Mamas’s illustrious lineage, Democritus did not dare to torture him and sent him to the emperor. Aurelian tried first with flattery and then with threats to win him over, but in vain: the saint bravely confessed Christ and fearlessly exposed the folly of those who worship lifeless idols. The enraged tyrant subjected the martyr to cruel tortures. Finally they threw him into the sea with a stone tied around his neck; but an angel came to the aid of the Lord’s chosen one, saved him from drowning, and commanded him to take refuge on a mountain in the wilderness near Caesarea.

Mamas spent forty days without food or drink; then God miraculously bestowed on him a staff, with which, at the heavenly command, he struck the earth, and from its depths came forth the Holy Gospel. After this the blessed one built a small church and lived there in fasting and prayer.

Soon the holy confessor was granted a wondrous authority over the powers of nature: the wild beasts of the wilderness gathered at his dwelling and listened to the reading of the Gospel. The blessed one fed on the milk of gazelles and deer, and, never forgetting the needs of his neighbours, he distributed to the poor the cheese made from this milk.

Soon word of the God-pleasing life of the holy father spread throughout all of Caesarea. The alarmed governor sent a detachment of soldiers to arrest him. The Lord’s chosen one went out to meet the soldiers, invited them in, and received them with kindness. Then Mamas revealed his identity to his guests and surrendered himself. The governor Alexander subjected the blessed one to terrible and prolonged tortures; then he cast him into a fire, but he remained unharmed; he threw him to the wild beasts to be torn apart, but they reverently bowed before him and kissed him. These miracles would have sufficed to soften even a stone, but the governor grew still more furious and ordered one of his strong-armed servants to pierce the saint with an iron trident. Mortally wounded, the martyr with great difficulty reached a cave outside the city, lay down, and fell asleep in eternal sleep. Before the saint’s repose a voice came from on high, calling the ascetic to the everlasting dwellings.

The faithful buried the body of the Lord’s servant at the very place of his repose.