Venerable Romanos the Melodist (†c. 556) — October 1 / October 14 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 1 according to the Julian Calendar (October 14 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Venerable Romanos the Melodist.

The Venerable Romanos the Melodist was born in the Syrian city of Emesa in the fifth century. From Emesa the blessed one moved to Constantinople and began to serve as a sacristan in the Church of Holy Wisdom. The saint was unlettered; he could neither read nor sing, but he lived with remarkable piety. Because of this he earned the attention and favour of Patriarch Euthymius, which filled the other clergy with envy. Once, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, when the Emperor himself was present in the church, the singers forcibly led Romanos up onto the ambo and compelled him to sing, and afterwards showered him with laughter. The singing of Saint Romanos was, of course, not pleasant to hear, and this wounded the saint himself more than anyone. At the end of the service Saint Romanos fell down sobbing before the icon of the Mother of God and prayed fervently. That same night the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the blessed one in his sleep, held out to him a scroll (in Greek, kontakion) and commanded him to eat it. Thus understanding from on high, and the gift of composing and performing hymns, were bestowed upon him. That same day, at the all-night vigil, the saint sang with a wondrous voice his first hymn, from the kontakion given to him by the Theotokos in the vision: “Today the Virgin gives birth to Him who is above all being.” The other hymns of Romanos were also called kontakia. To the blessed one belong also the first oikoi — hymns which he composed during his vigils in his cell (in Greek, oikos).

For his unceasing labours the chosen one of the Lord was ordained deacon and appointed teacher of chant. He composed up to a thousand hymns, many of which are included in the divine services to this day. The Venerable Romanos the Melodist reposed in the year 556.