Romanos le Mélode
vers 490-vers 556 6th century Feast day: October 1
The Gospel sung as living drama of the human heart, and prayer carried by beauty.
Who was Romanos le Mélode?
A deacon of Syrian origin, likely a Jewish convert, he served in Constantinople in the sixth century. Tradition holds that he sang poorly until a vision gave him the gift of song. He composed dozens of kontakia, long sung poems that unfold the Gospel in living dialogues, and remains the greatest hymnographer of the Byzantine Church.
In their own words
Today the Virgin gives birth to him who is beyond all being, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable.
A little Child, the pre-eternal God.