The holy great Martyr Mamas

THE LIFE OF THE GREAT MARTYR

SAINT MAMAS

Translated from the Greek by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston


THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR MAMAS
Commemorated September 2

KONTAKION, TONE 3

WITH the staff bestowed on thee by God, O Saint,+ shepherd thy people in life-giving pastures,+ and crush under foot unseen and untamable beasts+ for those who sing to thee;+ for all in misfortunes have thee as an intercessor, O Mamas.


HRIST'S HOLY MARTYR MAMAS was born in Paphlagonia of Asia Minor in the third century. His parents Theodotus and Rufina were renowned, of a patrician family, both wealthy and esteemed by all, and radiant with Christian piety. Unable to hide for long their faith in Christ and fervent love for Him, they confessed their piety before all and turned many to Christ. For this reason, then, Alexander, the magistrate of the city of Gangra, informed against them, as he had received command from the emperor to spread and confirm by all possible means the worship of the pagan gods, and to torture and put to death all Christians who did not obey this imperial decree.

Alexander called Theodotus to judgement and began to compel him to make sacrifice to the idols, but the blessed one did not wish even to hear what the ruler said. Although Alexander desired to give over Theodotus to torments immediately, yet he was constrained by the fact of Theodotus' noble birth, for he did not have the right to dishonor and torture descendents of patrician families without special permission from the emperor. Therefore Alexander sent Theodotus to C;saria of Cappadocia to the governor Faustus. Now this Faustus was extremely hardened in his impiety, and as soon as Theodotus came, he shut him in prison. The wife of Theodotus, the blessed Rufina, also followed her husband, although she was with child at the time; she went into the prison together with him and there endured suffering for Christ. Now Theodotus knew the weakness of his flesh and perceived the terrible cruelty of his tormentor, but nonetheless he preferred to die rather than to offend in some way against piety. Yet, fearing that he would not possess the strength to endure the severe tortures awaiting him, he turned to God with fervent prayer, saying, "O Lord God of hosts, Father of Thy beloved Son, I thank and glorify Thee that Thou hast deemed me worthy to be cast into this prison for Thy name's sake. But I entreat Thee, O Lord, as Thou knowest my weakness, receive therefore my soul in this prison, that mine enemy might not boast against me."

And God, Who alone hath fashioned our hearts and understandeth all our works, heard His faithful servant and quickly sent unto him a blessed repose: leading his soul out of the prison of the body, He made it to abide in His radiant heavenly mansions. But Theodotus' wife, the blessed Rufina, enduring deprivation and suffering in the prison, and seized with great sorrow over the death of her husband, gave birth to a son before her time. Beholding her newly-born son, and the body of her husband lying lifeless, without breath, she prayed with compunction and tears to God thus: "O God, Who didst create man and from his rib didst fashion woman, command that I also journey the same path which my husband hath gone, and having freed me from this brief life, receive me into Thine eternal habitations. But this infant to which I have given birth, do Thou Thyself rear as Thou knowest, and be to him father, mother, and guardian of his life."

Calling thus upon the Lord in the time of her affliction, this venerable and holy woman was heard and freed from the bonds of the body; having given up her soul into the hands of the Lord, she departed into eternal freedom. The child, however, the great Mamas, remained alive between the bodies of his parents.

Then God Who foreknoweth all things sent in a dream an Angel in the form of a young man to a certain most illustrious and pious woman named Ammia, who was also called Matrona, and ordered her to seek out the relics of the saints, bury them with due honor, and take the child and rear him as her own son. She hastened to the governor to carry out the Lord's command and requested the bodies from him. God inclined the cruel heart of the ruler to mercy, and he did not hinder the renowned woman's desire. Entering the prison she found the relics of both the saints lying side by side, and between them a beautiful and joyful infant. She took the relics and buried them in her garden in a resplendent and honorable manner, and the child she took to herself. Ammia was a childless widow who lived in chastity; she loved the infant as though he were her own son and raised him a Christian.

THE CHILD GREW, but until his fifth year he never spoke a word. The first time he spoke was to Ammia, who was a second mother to him, and he said, "Mama"; whence he was given the name Mamas. Ammia sent him to school to receive an education, and soon did he so greatly surpass all those of his own age that all wondered at his brilliance.

At that time the emperor of Rome was the impious Aurelian (270—275). He compelled all to worship the idols, not only adult men and women, but even small children; indeed, he paid special attention to children, imagining that because of their simplicity they could easily be deceived and dissuaded from piety. What is more, this impious one thought that if children became accustomed to eat meat offered to idols from their earliest youth, they would later become the more zealous idolators in their adult years. Hence by diverse enticements he would lead them to his own impiety. Many children and even young men succumbed to this deception and submitted to the will of the emperor. However, those who were ere fellow-students of the blessed Mamas imitated him and followed his instructions and did not obey the imperial decrees. For he demonstrated to his school fellows the deception of the pagan gods, which have neither life nor power, and he instructed them in the knowledge of the one true God, Whom he himself worshipped and to Whom he offered spiritual sacrifices, that is, a contrite spirit and a humble heart. Thus from his earliest years Mamas had the gray hair and wisdom and maturity of old age, an undefiled life (Wisdom 4:9).

At that time the emperor sent a new governor named Democritus to C;saria to replace Faustus. He was a great zealot for his impious and godless faith and breathed persecution and murder upon the Christians. The blessed Mamas was denounced to him as not only not worshipping the gods himself, but also as corrupting the youths with whom he studied and teaching them the Christian faith. Mamas was at that time fifteen years old, and he was also an orphan once again, since his second mother Ammia had reposed in the Lord, having left great possessions to her adopted son and only heir. She had departed unto the heavenly riches which God has prepared for them that love Him. When Democritus heard of the renowned Mamas, he sent for him, and as soon as he arrived, he straightway inquired whether he were a Christian and if he not only did not worship the gods, but also dared to corrupt his schoolmates and companions by teaching them not to submit to the imperial decree.

The young Mamas fearlessly replied like an adult and full-grown man, "I am precisely that one who considers thy wisdom to be nothing. Thou hast turned aside from the right path and dost stumble about in such darkness that thou canst not even gaze upon the light of truth. Thou hast departed from the true God and drawn nigh unto demons, and thou now dost worship lifeless and deaf idols. I shall never renounce my Christ, and I endeavor to turn unto Him all whomever I can."

Astounded by such a bold reply from the blessed Mamas, Democritus became enraged, and perceiving that he could not persuade him by meekness, commanded that he immediately be led away to the altar of their god Serapis and there offer sacrifice, even if it were against his will. But Mamas did not in the least fear the threat of the governor, and replied to him calmly, "Thou hast not the authority to punish me or to make these threats, for I am the son of parents of a renowned senatorial family."

Then Democritus inquired of those present concerning Mamas' lineage, and having learned that he was the descendent of ancient Roman nobility and that Ammia, a most illustrious and wealthy woman, had reared him and made him the heir of her vast possessions, he decided not to give him over to tortures, seeing that he did not have the right to do this. Rather, he bound him with iron fetters and sent him to the emperor Aurelian, who at that time was in the city of Ega, and wrote to the emperor concerning his actions.

When the emperor received and read the letter of Democritus, he ordered that the youth be brought before him. He employed much cunning, at times threatening him and at times promising him great honor and precious gifts, saying, "O splendid youth, if thou wilt draw nigh and make sacrifice to the great god Serapis, thou shalt live with us in the palace and be treated in a royal manner. All will revere and praise thee. Truly thou shalt be most fortunate. However, if thou dost not obey me, thou shalt bitterly perish."

But the courageous Mamas replied, "Let it not be that I should worship the lifeless idols which thou dost venerate as gods. How foolish thou art, to worship wood and stone which have no feeling instead of the living God! Cease to tempt me with cunning words, for when thou thinkest that thou doest unto me an act of kindness, in reality thou tormentest me; and when thou tormentest me, thou becomest my benefactor. Be it known to thee, therefore, that all the favors, gifts, and honors which thou dost promise unto me would become torture for me if I should love them instead ofi Christ; but those harsh torments with which thou threatenest me for the sake of the name of Christ, they shall be for me a great benefaction, since death for my Christ is dearer to me than all honors and possessions."

At this the enraged Aurelian commanded that the youth be beaten with rods. Although the delicate and tender body of the most-wise Mamas was torn by the blows, yet he endured all this without uttering a word, as though someone else were being tortured. The emperor tried to soften and change the mind of the youth even at the time of the beatings by saying to him, "Just say that thou wilt make sacrifice to the gods, and I shall immediately free thee from these torments." But the Martyr answered him, "Neither with my heart nor with my lips will I renounce my God and King Jesus Christ, even though thou shouldst give me ten thousand more wounds. These wounds unite me with my beloved Lord, and I wish that the arms of my tormentors would never grow tired, for the more they beat me, so much the more do they store up riches for me with Christ the setter of the contest."

When Aurelian perceived that the great Mamas was not at all frightened by these tortures, he ordered that he be stripped and his body gradually burned with torches, in order that from the slowness he be made to feel the most harsh and bitter pain. Thus also was this severe torment applied to the indomitable youth, and the lighted torches were brought near unto his martyric body. Yet the fire reverenced the athlete of Christ and did not touch him, but rather turned back into the faces of his tormentors. When the tyrant beheld this and the unshakenness of the Martyr, it was he rather that was kindled and consumed with wrath, for the less attention the blessed Mamas paid to the fire, the more the emperor burned with rage. He then ordered that the Saint be stoned, but this suffering was so pleasant for the Martyr, who was sheltered with the love of Christ, that it seemed as though sweet-smelling flowers had been strewn upon him. Seeing that nothing could persuade the Saint and that he remained invincible through all the tortures, the emperor finally gave command that he be put to death by casting him into the sea. The servants of the emperor fastened lead weights about the Martyr's neck and led him to the sea. But neither at this moment did the Lord – Who hath commanded His Angels to keep us – abandon His servant, for suddenly there appeared upon the way an Angel whose countenance was like unto lightning, and with a human voice he threatened the soldiers, who became terrified and fled. The Angel then took the weight from around the neck of the glorious Martyr of Christ and led him to the top of one high mountain in the wilderness not far from C;saria and ordered Mamas to remain there.

ST. MAMAS began his life in the wilderness with a fast; he fasted for forty days and forty nights upon the mountain and was manifested as a second Moses. In a marvellous vision our Saviour bestowed upon him a shepherd's staff and the Holy Gospels. Then he built himself a small chapel in which to pray and read the Holy Gospels. At one divine command the godly Mamas gathered about himself wild beasts from the wilderness in which he abode, as a shepherd his sheep; they listened to him and obeyed him as though endowed with reason. He nourished himself on the milk of his animal companions and also prepared cheese not only for his own need but for the poor as well.

Soon the report of the blessed one spread throughout all of C;saria. At that time another governor named Alexander (different from the previous one) ruled in Cappadocia; he, like his predecessors, was exceedingly cruel and impious. When he heard of the divine Mamas, he thought him to be a sorcerer and sent soldiers on horseback into the wilderness to seek him out and bring him before his presence. Now Mamas foreknew by the divine grace dwelling within him of the coming of these men, and therefore he descended a little way from the mountain and met them, and asked them whom they sought. Supposing him to be a shepherd who was tending sheep on the mountain, they replied, "We seek Mamas, who lives somewhere in this wilderness. Knowest thou him and where he might be?" "Why seek ye him?" answered Mamas. "It has been reported to the governor that he is a sorcerer, and therefore he has sent us to seize him and bring him for torture." Then the blessed one said to them, "I shall point him out to you, my friends, but first come to my dwelling to rest from your labor and refresh yourselves with some food."

The soldiers entered his hut, and he offered them cheese. While they began to eat with great appetite, the doe and wild she-goats gathered that the ascetic might milk them. Mamas offered the fresh milk to the soldiers to drink, while he himself stood apart at prayer. At this many more wild animals began to gather, and the soldiers became terror-stricken, cast aside their food, and hastened to the blessed one. He calmed them and, wishing to free them from their concern for finding him, declared unto them, "I am Mamas whom ye seek." But hearing this they replied, "If thou dost wish to come to the governor, then accompany us; but if thou dost not wish, then permit us to depart without thee, for we do not dare to take thee against thy will. And we entreat thee that the beasts do us no harm." Mamas reassured the soldiers and ordered them to go ahead, saying that he would soon follow them into C;saria.

Thus the servants of the emperor departed immediately from the presence of the divine servant of God and awaited his arrival at the gates of the city, for they wholly believed the words of such a marvelous man and could not think ill of him. Mamas took a lion with him and followed the soldiers to the city. When he drew nigh unto the city gates, he had the lion wait outside the walls, and he himself passed through the gates. The soldiers met and guided him to Alexander, who when he saw the Saint said, "Are thou the notorious Mamas the sorcerer of whom I have heard so much?" Mamas answered saying, "I am the servant of Jesus Christ, Who saveth those who believe on him and do His holy will, but who delivereth sorcerers, magicians and those who worship idols unto eternal fire. But tell me, why didst thou send for me?" "Because I cannot understand by what sorcery and magic thou hast so tamed wild and ferocious beasts that thou livest amongst them, and as I have heard, commandest them as though they were reasonable beings," retorted the governor. The Martyr said to this, "Whoever serves the one, true, and eternal God can never consent to live together with idol-worshippers and workers of evil, for he disdains both magic and idolatry. Therefore I have chosen rather to live with wild beasts in the wilderness than with thee in the habitations of sinners. Animals are tamed and obey me not through sorcery, as thou thinkest – for I do not even know of what sorcery is composed – but though they have not the gift of reason, yet they fear God and reverence His servants. But this is the thing worthy of wonder, that thou who hast before thee such an example still dost not wish to know the truth, showing thyself to possess less reason than they. Thou dost not worship the true God, and thou dishonorest His servants, torturing and murdering them mercilessly." The governor, inasmuch as he could not make answer to this, began to constrain the Martyr even more, saying, "Why hast thou become so impudent and foolish that thou resistest the commands of the emperor and shamelessly revilest us? Yet torments and punishments shall teach thee what is fitting." And he odered that the blessed one be taken out immediately, hung up, beaten, and raked with iron claws.

Christ's glorious Martyr, although he was grievously wounded, endured these things with such courage that it seemed as though he felt no pain whatever, for neither did he groan nor cry out, but only raised his eyes unto the heavens from whence he awaited succor. Seeing his perseverance, the godless Alexander commanded that he be raked with even greater cruelty. At this a divine voice was suddenly heard from heaven saying, "Mamas, be strengthened and take courage!" Many of the Christians who were standing in that place beholding the contest of the Martyr also heard this voice and were greatly strengthened in their faith. The holy Mamas, being perfectly fortified by this voice, paid no attention at all to the torments, although they continued to rake his body for a long time. Finally Alexander, suffering frenzy and rage and being more tormented in his heart than Mamas in his body, gave command to heat a furnace in which to cast the Martyr, and to take him out meanwhile and hold him in prison until it should be ready.

In the prison were forty other Christians; and as they had become weakened from hunger and thirst, Saint Mamas prayed, and behold, suddenly a dove flew through the window into the dungeon carrying in its beak food which was like unto a pearl in color and sweeter than honey. Having placed the food before the Saint, the dove flew away out of the window. This substance was multiplied, as once also in the wilderness a few loaves of bread were sufficient to feed thousands. When the prisoners had partaken of this food, they were fortified and refreshed. Moreover, through the prayers of the divine Mamas, at midnight the doors of the prison were opened, and all the captives save Mamas departed.

After these things the governor called Mamas to the tribunal and said to him, "Because of our care for other matters we have given thee leisure that thou mightest consider what is to thine advantage; but if thou hast not yet come to thy senses, behold the furnace into which thou shalt be thrown." At this the brave Mamas replied, "O governor, I have already made known to thee my resolve; why then dost thou senselessly trouble thyself? Come, therefore, make an end and tarry not to execute those things which thou hast threatened." Hearing this, the governer cast him straightway into the furnace.

The All-good God, however, even as He once bedewed the furnace for the three youths, here also annihilated the power of the fire. The Martyr stood in the flames as though he were in a garden of abundant flowers washed with dew; for the whole period of time that he remained in the furnace he chanted and glorified God. After three days, when the fire was extinguished and the coals had become ashes, the governor ordered the executioners to bring out of the furnace whatever remained of the Martyr's body. As they approached the furnace they heard the divine Mamas glorifying God with a loud voice, and they immediately ran back in terror to make known unto the governor this supernatural wonder. But being darkened in mind, he said, "By the great Serapis and all the gods, this is clearly sorcery" – so foolish this imperceptive one! But when such as were receptive to the light and the truth saw the athlete of Christ well and unharmed, they gave glory unto God Who works such miracles. While the most senseless governor, seeing the Martyr standing at the tribunal unshaken and having not even a hair of his head singed by the flames, called this sorcery and deceit. The great Mamas would not even make answer to the ruler. was

The impious tyrant then commanded that the Saint be thrown to the wild beasts, that they might rend him to pieces, and to this end he was led to the arena. A hungry she-bear was loosed upon him. However, this bear approached the Saint, bowed down before him, and lay at his feet embracing them. Then they released a leopard, but it only embraced the neck of the Martyr, kissed his face, and thus wiped the sweat from off his brow. At that moment a lion sprang into the arena and ran towards the Saint, the same lion that had accompanied him from the wilderness. The lion spoke to the blessed Mamas with a human voice – for manifesting His almighty power, God opened the mouth of the beast as once He opened the mouth of Barlaam's ass – "Thou art my shepherd who tended me on the mountain!" Having uttered this, he leaped upon the crowd, for there was present a numberless multitude of both pagans and Jews, adults and children. By God's will the gates of the arena locked themselves, and the lion mangled a great number of people, so much so that even the governor barely escaped death, and only a few others were able to flee the wrath of the beast which seized and tore all to pieces.

Afterwards the governor again laid hands on the Saint and confined him once more in prison for some while. Then for a second time he led him out into the arena and unleashed a most ferocious lion upon him, but this lion also became meek and lay at the feet of the blessed one. When the people beheld this, they gnashed their teeth from their great rage at the Saint and cried out to the governor, "Lead away the lion and we shall stone this sorcerer." Then they began to hurl stones at the Martyr. One of the pagan priests at the command of the ruler struck the Saint with a three-pronged spear in such a manner that his belly was opened and his intestines spilled upon the ground. The Martyr gathered them up with his own hands and walked out of the city. His blood, which poured forth like water, was collected by a certain pious woman in a vessel. Having gone about two furlongs from the city, he found a cave in a cliff and lay down there. Shortly thereafter he heard a voice from heaven calling him to the heavenly dwellings of the saints, and with great joy he gave up his holy soul into the hands of the Lord, for Whom he so valiantly had suffered, and to Whom be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.


THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. MAMAS
Sketch by Kontoglou of a fresco in the monastery of Barlaam, Meteora


IN THIS MANNER the great Mamas received the martyr's crown. His holy relics were buried at the place of his repose by the faithful, and many healings and miracles were wrought there, as is evident from a sermon to the Saint by St. Basil the Great. "Have the holy Martyr in remembrance, ye who live in this place and have him as your benefactor, ye who have been helped by him at the calling of his name, who being in error have been guided unto life by him, who have been healed by him, whose children have been returned to life by him though they had died, whose life has been lengthened through his intercessions. Wherefore let us all come together in one body and praise the Martyr."

When Julian the Apostate was still a youth, he wished to leave a memorial of his piety, and he began to erect a magnificent church over the grave of the holy Martyr Mamas, although he did this not out of true piety but rather out of vainglory and hypocrisy. Then a most glorious miracle was seen. Whatever was built during the day was destroyed at night. The pillars that had been erected would fall into a heap; some of the stones in the wall could not be made to lie correctly; other stones became so hard that they could not be hewn; others turned into dust; the cement and the bricks were found each morning blown from their places as though scattered by the wind. Indeed this was a revealing of the impiety of Julian and a sign of his future persecution against the Church, for the Saint did not wish that a church should be built in his honor by one who would shortly afterwards raise a persecution against the true faith.

By the intercessions of Thy great Martyr Mamas, O Lord, deliver us from the teeth of the invisible foes, that we may glorify Thee together with the Father and the Holy Spirit unto the ages. Amen.

SAINT MAMAS the Martyr has always been one of the more wellknown and beloved saints of the East. St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and others have written panegyric homilies in his honor, he being a native of their own country. He is especially revered by shepherds, and considered their patron.

In Constantinople a famous monastery was built in the Saint's honor by Pharasmanes, the chamberlain of the Emperor Justinian; it was completed and enriched by Gordia, the sister of the Emperor Maurice (582-602). The monastery was located in the western part of the city, close to the gate Xylokerkou (now Belgrad Kapi). In 809 the Emperor Nicephorus I (802-811) put Sts. Theodore Studite, his uncle Plato, and Joseph, Metropolitan of Thessalonica, confessors for the holy icons, under house arrest in this monastery for some years.

In the middle of the tenth century St. Symeon the New Theologian became its abbot, and continued as such till 1005.

There are accounts of the existence of the monastery and its reorganization, restoration, etc., through the period of the Latin conquest and the sack of the city by the Crusaders (1204), up to the fall of the city to the Turks in the 15th century.

In the days of the Emperor Isaac II Angelus (1185-1195), the head of the Saint was brought by a monk from C;saria, and the monastery was restored. It is reported that St. Anthony of Novgorod saw the relic there in 1200. The Emperor John Cantacuzenus became a monk there in 1350.

After the Latin conquest of Constantinople the head of St. Mamas disappeared, and it was thought that like so many other relics it was carried off by the Crusaders, although it was never reported to have been seen in the West. A few years ago, however, when extensive restoration was undertaken on the Church of the Holy Resurrection (the Holy Sepulchre) in Jerusalem, and the main Holy Table was being dismantled, the head was found along with other holy objects which had evidently been used as relics for the consecration.

There was also a great shrine of St. Mamas housing some of his relics on Cyprus from ancient times. Frescoes of St. Mamas are to be found in the monasteries of Meteora and the churches of Mistra as well as many other places. The Saint is depicted as a youth holding a shepherd's crook and carrying a young fawn in his arms. Sometimes he is depicted riding a lion.

An oral tradition reached the days of St. Basil the Great that when St. Mamas would go out to milk the does, they would race one another in order to be first to reach the Saint, so familiar were they with him.

There is a prayer of St. Mamas which is read when animals are sick. In America relics of the Saint are to be found, among other places, at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston and at the Brotherhood of Saint Herman of Alaska near Platina, California.