The Cantor of the Virgin Mary

The only authority for the life and date of this greatest of Greek hymn-writers is the account in the Menaion for October; his feast is October 1st in Orthodox Churches. Romanos served as deacon in the church at Berytus, and came to Constantinople during the reign of Anastasios. It was in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos that he received the charisma of sacred poetry from the Blessed Virgin. One Christmas Eve, the Virgin Mary appeared to him in his sleep and gave him a piece of papyrus, saying, "Take it and eat it". (cf Ezk 3:1; Rv 10:9). He obeyed and swallowed it. When he awoke, it was Christmas Day, and he immediately marveled and glorified God. He went up to the ambo and began the strains of his he parthenos semeron ton hyperousion tiktei. After this improvisation for the feast of the Nativity, he composed about one thousand kontakia for other feasts before he died. The autographs of several are preserved at the church "En Tois Kyrou," where Romanos was buried. It is there that his feast was celebrated. Before this miraculous apparition, Romanos possessed a weak voice and had no talent whatsoever as a composer. His voice became like gold and his words like honey. He is the author of the first Acathist Hymn.