October 1: Saint Romanos Melodos is celebratedtranslated

Today our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Agia Skepi of the Most Holy Theotokos. We also honor the Apostle Ananias, who is known from the miraculous manifestation of the Lord to the Apostle Paul in Damascus, the Blessed Gregory the Domestic, as well as the hymn writers: Romanos the Melodos and John Koukouzelis. Romanos, from being a deacon in Beirut, went to Constantinople, where he ministered at Panagia of Blacherna. There, he experienced the apparition of the Mother of God and enthusiastically composed the well-known stock of the Nativity of Christ the Savior: "Today the Virgin is tickling the mighty...". He began to utilize his poetic talent emerging as the greatest melodist of our Church.

Ioannis was a talented musician. He came from Durres and lived during the years of the Komnenos. His mother, after the death of her husband, along with affection and upbringing, pushed him to learn the sacred letters and the life of the Church. He became the chief musician of the palaces in the City.

Then Koukouzelis left for Athos, where he became a monk in the Great Lavra. After living a long life, he died peacefully at the beginning of the 12th AD. century, singing exquisite hymns.

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