1/14 October

Venerable Romanus, named the Sweet­singer, was a Greek by birth and was born in the the middle of the fifth century in the Syrian town of Emesa. Having received an education, he became a deacon in the Church of the Resurrection in the city of Beirut. Under the Emperor Anastasius Dicorus (491­517), he moved to Constantinople and became a cleric at the patriarchal church of the Holy Wisdom [Hagia Sophia]. He diligently assisted at the divine services, although he was not notable for either his voice or his musical ear. However, Patriarch Euthymius loved Romanus and even drew him near to himself because of his sincere faith and virtuous life.

The Patriarch's favorable disposition toward Saint Romanus stirred up against him several clerics of the cathedral, who began to oppress him. At one of the divine services before the Nativity, these clerics pushed Romanus out on the ambo of the church and forced him to sing. The church was overflowing with worshipers, the Patriarch himself was serving in the presence of the Emperor and the court retinue. Embarrassed and frightened, Saint Romanus, with his quivering voice and indistinct singing was publicly covered with shame. Coming home completely depressed, Saint Romanus prayed at night long and intensely before the icon of the Mother of God, pouring out his sorrow. The Theotokos appeared to him, gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. And here a miracle was performed: Romanus received a beautiful, melodic voice and, simultaneously, the gift of poesy.

In a rush of inspiration, he then and there composed his famous Kontakion for the feast of the Nativity of Christ: "Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Him Who is above being, and the earth offereth a cave to Him Who is unapproachable; angels with shepherds glorify, and Magi journey with a star: for, for our sake is born a young Child, the pre-eternal God."

The next day, Saint Romanus came to church to the vigil for the Nativity of Christ. He insisted that they permit him to sing again on the ambo, and this time he sang the hymn, "Today the Virgin", that had been composed by him, so beautifully, that it evoked general rapture. The Emperor and the Patriarch thanked Saint Romanus, and the people called him the Sweet­singer. From that time, Saint Romanus adorned the divine services with his wondrous singing and inspired prayers.

Beloved by all, Saint Romanus became a teacher of singing in Constantinople and raised high the beauty of the Orthodox divine services. Because of his poetic gift, he occupied an honored place among the Church's hymnographers. More than a thousand prayers and hymns for various feasts are attributed to him. In particular, his Akathist to the Annunciation of the Mother of God, which is sung on the Fifth Saturday of Great Lent, is especially renown. The other akathists were composed according to its pattern. Saint Romanus the Sweet­singer died in the year 556.