Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in Emesa, Syria, to Jewish parents. After moving to Constantinople, he served as a sacristan in Hagia Sophia and spent his nights in prayer, often at the Blachernae church. Lacking skill in reading and singing, he once performed poorly during a Nativity service and was mocked by the clergy, leaving him deeply humiliated. On the following day, while praying before the icon of the Mother of God, she appeared to him in a vision, gave him a scroll, and instructed him to eat it—granting him divine inspiration for hymnography.

That same night, Romanus sang his first hymn, the now-famous Kontakion: “Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One...” His hymns became known as kontakia, in reference to the scroll from the Theotokos, and he was also the first to incorporate the Oikos into church services. Ordained a deacon for his devotion, Romanus became a respected teacher of sacred music. Before his death around 556, he composed nearly a thousand hymns, with about eighty surviving today—still cherished in Christian worship.

Troparion — Tone 4

You gladdened Christ’s Church by your melodies / like an inspired heavenly trumpet. / You were enlightened by the Mother of God / and shone on the world as God’s poet. / We lovingly honor you, righteous Romanus.

Kontakion — Tone 8

You were adorned from childhood with the godly virtues of the Spirit; / you were a precious adornment of the Church of Christ, all-wise Romanus, / for you made it lovely with beautiful hymnody. / Therefore, we entreat you, grant your divine gift to those who desire it, / that we may cry out to you: “Rejoice, all-blessed Father, beauty of the Church.”