Patron of Church Musicians

October 1 is name’s day of Saint Romanos the Melodist, patron of church musicians.

​St. Romanos was a humble, God-fearing deacon serving at the splendid Hagia Sophia in the 5th century. Although he sang in the church, it's said that he was terrible, especially compared to the highly skilled chanters who at that time would improvise entire kontakion hymns.

One Christmas morning, after having begged the Theotokos to help him better honor her Son Jesus Christ through song, Romanos was granted a great miracle.

It was at this Christmas service that Saint Romanos spontaneously chanted these beautiful words that we sing every Nativity:
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“Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star!
Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!”

>Listen: "Today the Virgin Gives Birth"

​By the grace of God, the deacon with little to no talent was gifted musical and poetic ability that transfixed all those who heard him sing.

Much of the rich hymnography used to this day was written by Saint Romanos the Melodist. He died in the mid-5th century and is buried at the Church of the Theotokos in Constantinople. Although he is recognized as the greatest of all Church hymnographers, Romanos remained a humble deacon all his life. 

For a fuller story of his life: 
ww1.antiochian.org
www.oca.org

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​Saint Romanos, pray to God for us!