ST. ROMANOS THE MELODIST (OCT. 1ST)

Edited by Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Today, October 1st, the Western Orthodox Churches celebrate the life and legacy of St. Romanos the Melodist, born in AD 490 AD and died in AD 556. He is the father of Byzantine hymnody and the author of the Kontakion and Psalm Chorus Verses that are sung in the Eastern Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. This musical tradition influenced Western Orthodox hymnody as the ancient Gallican, Mozarabic, and Stowe Rites were resurrected by our early sainted bishops. The Archdiocese uses the pre-Schism Gregorian Rite, with its unaltered and profoundly beautiful Greagorian Chant, so St. Romanos’ legacy is felt less in our jurisdiction than in our Sister Churches. 

According to the legends of the Church, St. Romanos was not at first considered to be either a talented reader or singer. He was, however, loved by the Patriarch of Constantinople because of his great humility. Once, around the year 518, while serving in the Church of the Panagia at Blachernae, during the All-Night Vigil for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, he was assigned to read the kathisma verses from the Psalter. 

He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place. Some of the lesser clergy ridiculed Romanos for this, and being humiliated he sat down in one of the choir stalls. Overcome by weariness and sorrow, he soon fell asleep. As he slept, the Theotokos (Mother of God) appeared to him with a scroll in her hand. She commanded him to eat the scroll, and as soon as he did so, he awoke. 

St. Romanos immediately received a blessing from the Patriarch, mounted the ambo (pulpit), and chanted extemporaneously his famous Kontakion of the Nativity, "Today the Virgin gives birth to Him Who is above all being…." The emperor, the patriarch, the clergy, and the entire congregation were amazed at both the profound theology of the hymn and Romanos' clear, sonorous voice as he sang. 

According to tradition, this was the very first kontakion ever sung. The Greek word "kontakion" (κοντάκιον) refers to the shaft on which a scroll is wound, hence the significance of the Theotokos' command for him to swallow a scroll, indicating that his compositions were a gift from God!