The Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer is one of the founders of church singing, a holy man, thanks to whom Orthodox believers enjoy the most beautiful melodies that accompany every service in churches.
From birth, the Lord assigns a heavenly patron and intercessor from among the saints to a person. The Monk Roman is an Orthodox saint who has earned veneration through his godly deeds and the most wonderful support of Christians who turned to him both during his lifetime and near his holy image.
History of the icon
Saint Roman the Sweet Singer was born in Syria in 490. From childhood, his main desire was to live to please the Lord. He kept all the commandments of God, offering prayers to the saints daily. The saint renounced everything worldly, wanting to completely devote himself to serving the Lord. Already at a young age, he received a low position as a clergyman in the Church of Hagia Sophia. The young altar boy worked hard and helped in the temple, winning the love of the parishioners and the local clergy.
Other church ministers were jealous of the young man's special position. As punishment, they ridiculed Roman at one of the Christmas services, pushing him into the center of the temple and forcing him to sing. That day, many important and respected people gathered at the church service at Hagia Sophia. Among them was the Byzantine emperor himself and the main patriarch. Roman's honor was tarnished: trying to sing in a hoarse voice, he only caused laughter from the audience.
After the young man’s long prayers, the Mother of God descended from heaven. She placed a folded parchment in his hands, ordering him to eat it. The young clergyman did as the Blessed Virgin told him, and immediately a divine miracle happened. The monk became the owner of a wonderful voice and hearing, and at the same time the Queen of Heaven gave him the talent for writing church songs.
At the next service, Roman sang in front of all the visitors to the temple, striking them with the beauty of his voice. From that time on, they began to call him “The Sweet Singer.” The young servant did not hide the reason for the sudden appearance of talent. He spoke about the gift of the Blessed Virgin. Everyone who wished harm to the young man repented and asked for forgiveness for their bad deeds. The Patriarch awarded Roman the Sweet Singer the rank of deacon. Since then, the church singer began to write the most beautiful songs for worship, after which he personally performed them in the temple. Many people came to the church to hear the divine voice of the young man. The novel received the respect and love of the residents. He taught other people to sing and organized church choirs. Gradually, his songs began to be sung in many churches in the city.
Where is the image of St. Roman located?
The Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer made a tremendous contribution to church hymns, giving it a special melody and harmony. For his labors and loyalty to the Lord, he was canonized as a saint, and an icon was painted in his honor. Currently, his songs and prayers are read in every church.
The holy image of St. Roman the Sweet Singer adorns many churches in our homeland. Particular veneration is paid to the icon of the Righteous One in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in St. Petersburg. Every year on October 14, a service is held in the church in memory of St. Roman. Also, two churches were erected in honor of the martyr: the Church of Roman the Sweet Singer in St. Petersburg and in Moscow, on the territory of the Transfiguration Cathedral at the Novo-Spassky Monastery.
Description of the icon
There are various icons with the face of Saint Roman. Very often the image of a martyr is depicted on a shrine in honor of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. On it, icon painters depict the saint in the center, wearing the robes of a monk. There are also independent icons where the Reverend is depicted in full growth, and in his hands he holds a scroll, which is a symbol of his divine talent and church activity.
What does Rev. Roman the Sweet Singer help with?
Before the holy image of the martyr they pray with requests for help in the art of chanting.
The saint also helps and supports people engaged in creative activities. This is especially true for music and poetry. Orthodox people turn to Roman with requests for help in the spiritual understanding of the Holy Book.
The novel The Sweet Singer protects you from envious people, helps you find true friends, protects your home from enemies, gives you confidence in your strengths and abilities, and supports you in difficult moments of life. The monk is also the patron and protector of men who bear the name Roman.
Days of celebration
Orthodox believers pay tribute to Saint Roman on the day when they celebrate the great feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. The date falls on October 14 (October 1, old style).
Prayer to Roman the Sweet Singer in front of the icon
“Oh, most holy martyr Roman! I will not forget Your deeds until the end of my life. We always remember You when we offer prayers to the saints and to the Lord, for we read our prayers from Your words. We remember Your pious actions! We ask You, Great Righteous One, protect us from evil, pray before the Lord for our souls, for our children, and do not leave us without help, for our hearts are filled with faith and love for Christ. Do not let us lose heart, protect our homes from enemies, protect our souls from the tricks of the devil. Mention our names before the Lord in Heaven and do not stop praying for us. Inspire us, endow us with talent and become a patron in our deeds and endeavors! May our lives be righteous, pleasing to our Lord Jesus, for all glory and praise goes to Him, all honor and worship. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From now on and forever and ever. Amen".
Each icon is an invisible connection between a person and the one depicted in the holy image. That is why prayers addressed to the saints next to their miraculous faces have unlimited power and help. We wish you strong faith, be happyand don't forget to press the buttons and
The biography of this saint has been collected, or, more precisely, reconstructed on the basis of primary sources - lifetime testimonies and kontakia compiled by him. It is known that he lived at the turn of the late 5th and mid-6th centuries.
The Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer became famous as one of the greatest Byzantine hymnographers. Information about him was preserved in the old synaxarions - Menologii of Basil II (10th century); It is also worth mentioning the Berlin, Jerusalem and Patmos Talmuds or codes, which are also associated with the life of the saint, which has not survived to this day.
Compilation of the life of a saint
Before we find out how Roman Sladkopevets helps, let’s study in detail the information that the church-Christian archives have.
For example, in the Patmos Codex there is information that he was from Syria and the city of Emessa and was born into a Jewish, but already Christianized family. After some time, he began to serve as a deacon in the Holy Church of God (of the Resurrection) in Beirut. And then Constantinople, where Tsar Anastasius ruled at that time, awaited him. In Kira, he began to serve in the Church of the Mother of God, where he received grace from the Mother of God Herself. She appeared to him in a subtle dream and gave him a parchment scroll, which she ordered him to eat.
When the saint devoured him, he immediately woke up and, ascending to the pulpit, began to proclaim the euphonious chant: “Today the virgin gives birth to the Most Essential.” After Roman the Sweet Singer, whose icon is often depicted with a huge letter, compiled the Lord's holidays and the days of remembrance of the Saints, the number of which turned out to be about a thousand. Written by his hand, they are still kept in Kira.
New evidence
The menology of Vasily II adds some more to this information. That, being in a reverent state and incessant prayers at the vigil in the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Constantinople estate of Blachernae, Saint Roman the Sweet Singer repeatedly returned to Syrian Cyrus. Another early source - the life of St. Artemy - has an episode from the reign of Heraclius, which describes that from a young age St. Artemy prayed and sang “verses like the humble Romanus in the saints.”
This is what Saint Roman the Sweet Singer looks like at first glance. How does his holy image help? This question interests many Orthodox Christians. Church singers pray to this saint for help in the art of singing.
The service to Saint Romanus - another group of testimonies - the canon, was published in the Menaion and signed with the name of Epiphanius in the Theotokos. It also contains some information about the life of Saint Romanos, in particular, it states: “from his youth, Saint Romanos dedicated himself entirely to Christ” (canto 1:2), and lived as an ascetic in Constantinople. This canon also describes the miracle of the appearance of the Mother of God to him (canto 5, troparion 2).
Some more information about the saint is given by the canon of Theophan Grapt, which says that he was the best deacon (6 canto, 1 troparion), who served as a preacher through his hymns. In this canon (canto 4.2). It is also said that he studied the Scriptures from early childhood, and when he arrived in Constantinople, he constantly attended the Church of the Virgin Mary at Blachernae.
But the most interesting fragment of the kontakion for St. Roman was published by Cardinal Pitra and Grodidier de Maton. Only three ikos have reached our contemporaries, where the life of Saint Roman is praised, and especially in the second and third ikos.
Roman Sladkopevets
The third group includes kontakia compiled by Roman the Sweet Singer himself. He was a contemporary of the earthquake of 527-529, and also a witness to the Nika uprising of 532 and the construction of the Church of Hagia Sophia in 537. The saint also witnessed the terrible disasters of 551-554. Chroniclers report that an earthquake in 551 caused the sea to recede more than a mile. In 554, earthquakes were felt in both Constantinople and Alexandria. This means that at this time the saint was still alive.
The prayer to Roman the Sweet Singer begins with the words: “Reverend Father Roman!” or “Oh, sacred head!”
The year of his death can be dated no later than 562. He came to Constantinople during the reign of King Anastasius (518). In Beirut he began serving in the Church of the Ascension as a deacon when he was at least 25 years old. The birth of Saint Romanus should be dated to the period between 480-490. And he was probably well acquainted with the medical art, since in his kontakia one can often find specific medical vocabulary.
Judging by the fact that the names of the great scientists Plato, Aratus, Pythagoras, Homer, and Demosthenes are mentioned in the kontakion (kontakion for Pentecost, stanza 17), he received an excellent and most complete classical education. No less intriguing are Saint Roman’s attacks on doctors (kontakion on John the Evangelist), which characterizes him as an excellent expert in medical terminology. Roman Sladkopevets accused doctors of taking excessive bribes from their patients, who, left without funds, doomed themselves to starvation. He called some doctors “a corrupt collection of false doctors” and emphasized their greed.
Medical practice of the saint
Roman Sladkopevets lived a long life. His Jewish origin suggests that, in addition to moneylending in the Byzantine world, Jews often practiced medicine, and most likely his family belonged to this environment. He clashed with the medical corporation of Emessa, reduced the price for medical services and often treated for free.
Therefore, there are suggestions that the move of Saint Romanus from Emessa to developing Beirut, which in the 6th century was a major cultural center of the eastern Mediterranean, where there were always many temptations and boastfully displayed wealth, was connected with these questions. It was very difficult for a provincial Jew to make his way in such a large and sophisticated city. To do this, one had to have extraordinary abilities. And Saint Roman, despite all the difficulties, still succeeded.
Most likely, the attention of church authorities was attracted by his poetic talent. And then he was ordained as a deacon to serve in the Beirut Church of the Resurrection, which was very majestic. His position here as a deacon was associated with charitable duties.
Knowledge in law
His creations were also influenced by his stay at the center of jurisprudence. In his creations, he often carries a legal thought, where his good lawyer and investigative skills are felt.
It is not known why Saint Romanus left Beirut and went to Constantinople, but there are some assumptions that he moved there in 512, when the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Flavian was deposed, and the theologian and monophysite Severus of Antioch came to his place.
During his reign, serious oppression of Orthodox ministers began. Beirut was a prominent center along with the Church of the Resurrection. And Saint Romanos, who sculpted kontakia and always professed Orthodoxy and pro-Chalcedonian views, certainly could have immediately attracted attention and become an expelled victim of the Monophysite church rulers. Or perhaps he himself left, unable to bear the oppression. An indirect confirmation of this is the kontakion of the Three Youths.
Constantinople
Having moved to Constantinople, he settled in Kira near the Church of Our Lady (Kyriotissa). It was there that the vision spoken of in the synaxari took place. Proof of this could be the constant stay of Saint Roman in Cyra (in this modest quarter his body was buried near the church), although he could claim more.
And all because Kyriotissa became a holy place for him. Another proof of the vision is the appearance of the kontakion at Christmas. This means that the gift of poetic talent, with the blessing of the Mother of God, was accomplished.
In addition to a short version of this event, there is also a much later widespread version (XIII-XIV centuries). The Monk Acadius Savvait tells that Saint Romanus had no voice and could not read at all, for which his brothers were often ridiculed. He prayed to the Mother of God, and then She appeared to him in a dream and asked him to make him sad and gave him a scroll, in return he promised to become a monk. Roman absorbs the scroll and soon takes monastic vows at the Awassu monastery. However, the recognition that Romanus became a monk from Akaki’s narrative became erroneous, and the monastery of Awassu itself is almost unknown in early sources.
Other studies
Nicephorus Callistus, for example, writes about this vision that in the Church of the Mother of God there was an icon that streamed myrrh. And one day, during a vigil on Christmas Day, Saint Roman dozed off during the sixth ode of the canon. In a subtle dream, the Mother of God appeared to him and gave him a scroll, which he ate at Her command. Before the seventh canto, he went out to the pulpit and sang “Virgin is this day.” But here there are some inaccuracies: in Constantinople in the 6th century there was no canon. Therefore, this story can be called anachronistic, that is, created, again, on the basis of the synaxars. The stories of Akakios and Xanthopulos do not refute the information of the synaxars.
From the same synaxariums one can learn that Saint Romanus was also involved in politics. Just look at the episode with the Nika uprising in 532; the entire imperial court of Constantinople was ready to leave the capital in fear and horror. He writes a hymn that contains words of sympathy for the ruling power of the emperor and hostility towards the rebels, whom the author calls madmen. It turns out that Saint Roman was a supporter of tough measures against the rebels, and this is not without reason.
Holiness
From the life of Saint Artemius one can learn that Roman the Sweet Singer was revered as a saint already from the time of Heraclius, since the hymns he composed were sung at the vigil. And his grave was preserved for centuries, even in the 13th century it was shown to Anthony of Novgorod, who later wrote down that the holy hymnographer was buried in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Roman Sladkopevets, whose temple can be visited in Kyiv and Nizhnekamsk, began teaching singing in Constantinople. Thanks to his hard work, love for God and, of course, talent, the splendor of Orthodox services was highly elevated. Thanks to his poetic gift, he occupied a special niche among church hymn writers.
The saint composed more than a thousand prayers and hymns for various church holidays. His akathist to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, which is sung on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent, is especially famous. His creations became models, according to which other akathists were later compiled. This saint raised the splendor of Orthodox service very highly and therefore occupies an honorable place among church hymnals. The date of his death is October 14 (October 1, Old Style), somewhere between 555 and 562.
Saint Roman the Sweet Singer. What does it help with?
From his early youth, Saint Roman the Sweet Singer lived a life pleasing to God, asceticizing in virginity and chastity. The icon with his image has an independent existence, where he is depicted with a scroll in his hand, facing the face of the Mother of God, as a commemoration of his church poetic activity, and on the icon in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on October 14 (October 1), where in the center he is depicted in the guise of the deacon, and next to him the Mother of God gives him the same scroll.
In 1902, Tsar Nicholas II built a temple of Roman the Sweet Singer in the Moscow Novo-Spassky Monastery in the area of the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Romanov family tomb, but during the years of Soviet hard times, it was desecrated and destroyed.
Those who seek to understand the Holy Scriptures, prayers, liturgical texts and chants also pray to him. Church ministers ask him to protect him from false accusations and the machinations of envious enemies.
Everyone who had the opportunity to attend an Orthodox service paid attention to the extraordinary beauty of church singing. Its sounds accompany almost all services performed throughout the year. They delight parishioners with special splendor on holidays, directing all their thoughts to the higher world. One of those who devoted his life to the creation of these wonderful chants was, whose memory is celebrated October 14 , on the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary . The Roman Sweet Singer is revered by the Church as a man of holy life, a servant of God, and an outstanding songwriter.
Roman Sweet Singer/Greek. Ρωμανός ο Μελωδός - Christian saint of the 5th-6th centuries, known as the author of hymns called kontakia, some of which are still used in the worship of the Orthodox Church (for example, “The Virgin today gives birth to the Most Essential”; “My soul, my soul, arise”). The Orthodox Church canonized Roman the Sweet Singer (October 14 n/st).
West Polesia icon (1649)
Childhood and early years of the future saint
Saint Romanus, Greek by origin, was born in 490 in the small Syrian city of Emes. From an early age, he felt his calling to serve God and led a pious life, moving away from worldly temptations. As soon as he emerged from his adolescence, Roman got a job as a sexton in one of the churches of Berit - that’s what present-day Beirut was called in those years, and when the pious Emperor Anastasius I ascended the Byzantine throne, he moved to Constantinople and began to serve in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
And here, in the capital of Orthodox Byzantium, the future saint Roman the Sweet Singer became famous for his exceptional piety. His life fully paints us a picture of the constant spiritual feat performed by a young man. All his days were filled with fasting, prayers and contemplation of God. Such zeal for serving the Lord did not go unnoticed, and soon Roman the Sweet Singer was accepted as a sexton into the Church of Hagia Sophia, the world center of Orthodoxy in those years.
The machinations of envious people
Untaught to read and write from childhood and deprived of the opportunity to read spiritual literature, Roman nevertheless surpassed many scribes in his charitable deeds. For this he gained the love of Patriarch Efimy, a man of high spiritual qualities, who became his mentor and patron. However, this disposition of the head of the church aroused the envy of many clergy, who saw the patriarch’s favorite in the young sexton.
It is known that envy often pushes people to do mean things. This applies equally to laity and clergy. So many of the Constantinople clergy grumbled at the patriarch and tried to build all sorts of intrigues for Roman in order to humiliate him in the eyes of the primate of the church. One day they succeeded.
Confusion during the holiday
Once on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the emperor and his entourage were personally present in the temple. The service was conducted very solemnly, and everything was filled with appropriate splendor. Roman the Sweet Singer, as befitted his humble position, was busy arranging lamps in the temple. The crafty clergy forced him to go out to the pulpit and sing a song of praise to God from it, which was not at all part of his duties.
Roman Sweet Singer and the Mother of God.The Miracle of Roman the Sweet Singer
From the manuscript of the Menologii of Basil II, X century
They did this out of deceit: Roman, having at that time neither the hearing nor the voice necessary for singing, was bound to inevitably disgrace himself. And so it happened. Having become a universal laughing stock and having suffered humiliation, the young man, falling before the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, prayed and cried bitterly from resentment and despair. Returning home and without even tasting food, Roman fell asleep, and in a subtle dream the Queen of Heaven herself appeared to him and, handing him a small scroll, ordered him to open his mouth. When he had done this, the Most Holy Virgin placed a scroll in them and ordered them to eat it.
Great gift of the Mother of God
Having swallowed the charter, the future saint awakened, but the Mother of God had already left him. Having not yet fully realized what had happened, Roman suddenly felt within himself an understanding of the Teachings of God. This happened because the Most Holy Virgin opened his mind to the knowledge of the wisdom contained in the Holy Scriptures, as Christ once did to his disciples. Until recently, tormented by resentment and humiliation, now in tears he thanked the Queen of Heaven for the knowledge that she gave him in the blink of an eye.
Having waited for the hour when the festive chant should have been sung during the all-night vigil, Roman the Sweet Singer, of his own free will, rose to the pulpit and sang the kontakion he himself composed in such a wondrous voice that everyone in the church froze in amazement, and when they came to their senses, they came to indescribable delight. This was a kontakion performed to this day in Orthodox churches in honor of the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
Shame of envious people and mercy of the patriarch
Patriarch Anastasius I, who was present in the temple, marveled at this miracle. In response to his question about how Roman knew this wondrous chant and how he was suddenly granted the gift of performing it, the sexton did not hide what happened to him, but publicly told about the appearance of the Queen of Heaven to him and of the grace poured out upon him.
Saint Roman the Sweet Singer spoke about everything without concealment. The life of this saint of God tells that, having heard his words, all those who had recently schemed against him were ashamed of their actions. They repented and asked him for forgiveness. The Patriarch immediately elevated him to the rank of deacon, and since then Roman the Sweet Singer generously shared the book wisdom bestowed upon him with everyone who came to the temple. It was Anastasius I who called Saint Roman the Sweet Singer. With this name he entered the history of the Christian Church.
Pedagogical and compositional activities of the saint
Surrounded by universal love, Deacon Roman began to teach singing to everyone, selecting those who were especially gifted among them. Using the gift given to him from above, he was engaged in serious work in organizing church choirs in Constantinople and was very successful in this field. Thanks to his efforts, church singing acquired a splendor and harmony unprecedented before.
In addition, Saint Roman the Sweet Singer also became famous as the author of many liturgical hymns. He owns more than a thousand hymns and prayers, sung for many centuries. Nowadays, not a single Orthodox holiday is complete without the performance of his works. The akathist he wrote to the Annunciation of the Mother of God became especially famous. It is performed annually during Lent. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it was the model on the basis of which akathists were written in all subsequent centuries.
The poetic gift of St. Roman
In addition to his composing activities, Saint Roman the Sweet Singer went down in history thanks to another side of his creativity - poetic. The texts of all his works were written in Greek and are familiar to us only in Slavic translation. Many researchers who have studied their originals testify that they were written in a rare poetic meter, known as tonic, agree that it is to Saint Roman that world literature owes the preservation and dissemination of this unique poetic form.
The large in volume and invaluable in content musical and poetic heritage of Roman the Sweet Singer is known to us largely thanks to the works of the German historian and Byzantinist Karl Krumbacher, who published a complete collection of his hymns at the end of the 19th century. According to the scientist, Roman’s works in terms of poetic power, depth of feelings and spirituality inherent in them are in many ways superior to the works of other Greek authors.
The end of the life of Saint Roman
Roman the Sweet Singer passed away from earthly life in 556. Shortly before his blessed death, he took monastic vows and became a monk at the Avassa monastery located near Constantinople. There his last days passed. The universal church appreciated his godly life and the rich musical and poetic heritage that he left behind. By the decision of one of the Councils he was canonized. An akathist to Roman the Sweet Singer and one of the first editions of his life were written.
Temple at the Conservatory
A unique monument to the famous poet and composer is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. It is here that the memory of this saint and the Day of Roman the Sweet Singer are honored with special warmth: October 14 is celebrated as a professional holiday. This is not surprising, because the people who gathered within the walls of the conservatory received from God the same musical gift as the author of the hymns that came to us from the 6th century. For all students and teachers, Roman Sladkopevets is the heavenly patron. The icon on which his holy image is represented enjoys special honor here.
Throughout his life, the holy Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer set an example of how the Eternal Creator sends down his gifts in response to pure and sincere love for him, how generously he pours out grace on those whose hearts are open to him and who are ready to reject earthly vanity, taking the path of high service .
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Everyone who attended a church service at least once in their life was amazed at the beautiful sound and melody of church hymns. The Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer devoted his entire life to the creation of these beautiful hymns and melodies, whose memorial day is celebrated on October 14 (October 1 in the strict style) on the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Roman Sladkopevets, life
This saint was from Greece and was born in Syria in the city of Emes in 490. From an early age, he felt his destiny to serve the Lord, so he led a righteous life, constantly prayed and renounced all worldly goods.
After the Reverend received a Christian education, he was taken to serve as a deacon in the city of Beirut, in the Church of the Resurrection. During the reign of Emperor Dikore Anastasia I, Saint Romanus moved to Constantinople for permanent residence. There he received the position of cleric in the Patriarchal Church of St. Sophia.
He was not particularly noted at the service, although he diligently helped during the services. At the same time, he had neither a voice, nor hearing, nor poetic abilities. The Patriarch was very attached to Roman and brought him closer to himself for his purity of thoughts and faith.
Because of the special attitude towards the patriarch, Saint Roman began to be oppressed by other clergy. They decided to punish him by making him laugh at one of the services on Christmas Eve. Saint Roman was pushed into the middle of the temple and forced to sing. At this moment, many believers were present, the emperor himself with his retinue and the patriarch. Reverend Roman tried to sing in a hoarse voice and indistinctly, but was disgraced.
After the service, Roman, at home in sadness, prayed for a very long time and earnestly to the Blessed Virgin. When the Mother of God appeared to him, she gave him a scroll and ordered him to eat it. As a result, a miracle happened, and Roman received a wonderful voice, hearing and the opportunity to write church texts.
In gratitude, that same night the Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer wrote his famous hymn in honor of the Nativity of Christ:
“Today a virgin gives birth to the Most Essential, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable; Angels and shepherds praise, while wolves travel with a star; For our sake, the Child of Mlado, the Eternal God, was born.”
The next day, Saint Roman himself volunteered to sing and did it so beautifully that those present could not contain their delight and called him “The Sweet Singer.” When asked where he received such a gift, Roman spoke openly about the grace of the Mother of God. All his envious people and enemies asked for forgiveness and repented of their atrocities. The Patriarch elevated him to the rank of deacon.
From that time on, he became the adornment of all divine services and performed hymns and kontakia written by him.
After Saint Roman the Sweet Singer received universal love, he began to pass on his skills to others. Using the gift he received, he taught singing and organized church choirs in Constantinople with great success. It was the saint who was able to elevate the singing in the temple, give it melody and harmony. In addition, he wrote many prayers and hymns. On all major Christian holidays the works of St. Roman are performed.
Before his death in 556, Romanus became a monk and lived out his days in the monastery of Avas. For his activities and enormous legacy, he was canonized. The Blachernae Church was of particular importance to the monk; he loved to visit and serve there. It was here that the appearance of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary took place, which is why Saint Roman is depicted on the icon of the Intercession, but he lived in a different time.
Saint Roman the sweet singer, what helps
Saint Roman the Sweet Singer, whose icon has an independent existence, is often depicted on the icon in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin. On it he is placed in the center in the guise of a deacon. On an independent icon he is depicted with a scroll in his hands, as a commemoration of his activities.
An icon of the saint is often given to loved ones named Roman. After all, he is their patron. In addition, the Sweet Singer is prayed to in the following cases:
- getting help with the art of singing;
- to develop creative abilities. This is especially common among musicians, singers and poets;
- those who want to more deeply understand the Holy Letter, the texts of hymns, prayers and church songs turn to him;
- get protection from envious people;
- make new friends;
- protect your home from enemies;
- to gain self-confidence;
- to resolve difficult life situations.
The Akathist to Roman the Sweet Singer has a special meaning. It was this man who became the forefather of all akathists. He was the first to create such a scripture, although in his time it had the name of a church hymn. The Akathist to the Most Holy One is read in the same way as in other cases. The text of the akathist to Saint Roman is as follows:
Kontakion 1
Chosen ascetic and earthly angel of Christ, adorned with the Divine virtues of the Spirit from childhood, Roman the Wise, served with beautiful singing to the Church of Christ, as if we cried out to you:
Ikos 1
You have loved the angelic life from your youth, you have elevated your mind to the Divine, you have despised the temporal and earthly, therefore the Holy Spirit has dwelled in you, by His grace you have been adorned, for this reason we cry out to you with love:
Rejoice, you have become like an Angel in purity.
Rejoice, through fasting and vigil you have achieved dispassion.
Rejoice, lamp of the Divine light.
Rejoice, fragrant censer of prayers.
Rejoice, untrained in literacy, striving towards God with reason.
Rejoice, you who excel in the good deeds of the wise.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the good intention of your heart, the Lord has delineated a narrow and thorny path for your salvation. Moreover, having zealously accepted the good and easy yoke of Christ, you were humble and obedient, singing the praises of all to the Creator and God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
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The mind of the Divine Scriptures has acquired true wisdom, which according to the Apostle is first pure, then peaceful, meek, submissive, filled with mercy and good fruits, without doubt and without hypocrisy. We, marveling at your purity, sing:
Rejoice, having placed all your hope in God the Provider.
Rejoice, having only sought His favor.
Rejoice, you who labored diligently in obedience.
Rejoice, having the fear of God in your heart.
Rejoice, you who were enlightened on earth by your virtuous life.
Rejoice, for this you have won the love of God in heaven.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 3
Confirmed by the power of love, you were jealous of acquiring the gospel life in the image of the venerable fathers. When the Lord gave you the understanding of this good pleasure, you sang with tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having strong faith in the good providence of God for the salvation of man, you flowed to the honest image of the Most Holy Theotokos, co-representing in the Church of the Blachernae, and you humbly prayed to the Lady to direct your path. We, seeing your persistent hope in the mercy of the Queen of Heaven, sing to you:
Rejoice, faithful and beloved child of the Mother of God.
Rejoice, the power of Her sacred cover is secretly comprehended.
Rejoice, Zealous Intercessor, reverent admirer.
Rejoice, thou who tearfully offered up prayers to Her warmly in the night.
Rejoice, having found such consolation in your heart.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 4
You, the good one, endured a storm of many troubles because of envy for your zeal for obedience. Moreover, you repaid for reproach and humiliation with meekness and humility, but we, marveling at your kindness and patience, cry out: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing and seeing your great virtue, the most holy patriarch loved you, giving you an equal share with the clergy, and we joyfully say about this:
Rejoice, loving the Lord with all your heart.
Rejoice, envious shame received on the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
Rejoice, thou who sought consolation before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Rejoice, conquering humiliation through meekness.
Rejoice, bright image of the simplicity of the heart.
Rejoice, you who soften the hearts of your offenders.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 5
Holding God-singing love and a pure heart for the achievement of the heavenly fatherland, like a lamp in your mind, you glorified the Heavenly Father with it, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing, O most wonderful Roman, your love for God, I keep it in your heart, contemplating all of this:
Rejoice, obedient reed of the hymn writer, contained in the hand of Christ.
Rejoice, you who love Christ alone from your heart.
Rejoice, you who have entered into the joy of the Lord.
Rejoice, thou whost cleave unto Him alone with all thy soul.
Rejoice, saturate us with spiritual sweets.
Rejoice, beloved representative of God for us.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 6
The preacher of the inexhaustible grace and mercy of God appeared to you, blessed one, when in a dream you received a book scroll from the Queen of Heaven for consumption: therefore you became wise, beginning to sing intelligently to the glory of God, and to write praiseworthy words to the saints, calling out with faith: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone like a multi-bright star, filled with great wisdom, for the Lady, like Her Son was once Her Apostle, opened your mind to the understanding of the Scriptures, for this sake we please you, calling:
Rejoice, treasure of the love of the Gospel.
Rejoice, container of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, you have received boldness from the God-gracious Virgin.
Rejoice, you who offer thanksgiving from a pure heart to your Teacher.
Rejoice, thou who has known the sweetness of renunciation of one's will.
Rejoice, for meekness and humility you have received the great gift of God.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 7
Wanting to offer worthy thanks to the Queen of Heaven, you ascended, O blessed Romana, to the church pulpit and sang your kontakion in a sweet voice, saying: Today the Virgin gives birth to the Most Essential. Thus we sing to the Most Holy One: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You have appeared as a wondrous star, most sweetly singing, an elegant adornment to the Church of Christ. Thou hast gained David's meekness, Jacob's kindness, and Job's patience, but we cry out to thee:
Rejoice, God's mercy to the acquisitive.
Rejoice, representative close to God for us.
Rejoice, enlightened by angelic singing.
Rejoice, radiant lamp.
Rejoice, unshakable pillar of the faith of Christ.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 8
Seeing and hearing everything, you were amazed that wisdom flowed from your lips like a river. The clergy, who offended you, were ashamed, annoyed by simplicity and ignorance, and repentantly fell at your feet, asking for forgiveness and glorifying God, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Filled with the fire of Divine love, having patiently acquired the Holy Spirit, according to the word of the Gospel of Christ. We, conquered by your love, dare to call you this:
Rejoice, for the wondrous image of the Heavenly Father has been revealed within you.
Rejoice, you who were hostile to the brethren, who loved the love of Christ.
Rejoice, rewarder of good for evil.
Rejoice, you who left us all an example of Christian brotherly love.
Rejoice, bring the wicked to shame.
Rejoice, give comfort to those who mourn.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 9
All human nature and the faces of the Angels praise you, wise Father, as a novice filled with humility, you accepted the blessed path of Christ, settled in the Kingdom of Heaven, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The many-pronounced oracles do not suffice to utter the spiritual purity that you had, blessed Romane; and teach us strong faith and uncomplaining obedience, calling to you with love:
Rejoice, you have been a great obedient to your flock.
Rejoice, interlocutor of the Angels.
Rejoice, nourisher of those who hunger for eternal life.
Rejoice, planter of wise words.
Rejoice, touchingly singing the glory of God.
Rejoice, you who have received the sweet string of the Divine gift.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 10
To save the human race, you have appeared as a faithful guide, marvelously proclaiming the glory of God. We, heeding the word of your wisdom, glorify the Lord with joy, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The Heavenly King, Who is glorified by the Cherubim and Seraphim, by life, faith and love, you were the most zealous servant, reverend, like a fragrant wine, you appeared with all the chosen ones of the Most Pure Mother of God at the Throne of the All-Holy Trinity, so we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, good intercessor for us to the Lord.
Rejoice, most luminous and beloved prayer book.
Rejoice, for you have acquired beauty equal to the angels.
Rejoice, for through spiritual poverty you have become rich.
Rejoice, for you have opened your mind to the Lord.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 11
We bring tender singing to you, a quick helper in the needs and sorrows of all who flow to you with faith and love. By the same hymns of yours in the Church of God God is glorified, Wonderful in His saints, who continually call: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Like the brightest lamp and prayer book you appeared, O blessed Romana. Now, standing before the Master of all and having acquired boldness towards Him, pray for us, who honor your memory, calling:
Rejoice, thou who serve God alone.
Rejoice, having fulfilled all the commandments of God.
Rejoice, thou art worthy of the heavenly mansions.
Rejoice, you who have partaken of the heights of glory.
Rejoice, voice of well-known words.
Rejoice, melodious theologian in hymns.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 12
You inherited the grace of God's treasures, you had the Mother of God Mary, the wise and wise Teacher, admonishing you and teaching you to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your praiseworthy life on earth, we joyfully glorify the wondrous Heavenly King in our saints. By grace you now rejoice in the villages of the righteous, where you see the endless glory of God. We tenderly sing to you:
Rejoice, for you have shaken off the beauty and glory of this world.
Rejoice, for you have directed your soul to a higher calling.
Rejoice, for your verb has fulfilled the broadcast of the Universe.
Rejoice, teach saving knowledge to everyone.
Rejoice, golden trumpet, proclaiming the glory of God with the angels.
Rejoice, crowned by God, who does not leave us in your prayers.
Rejoice, sweet-singing Roman, church beauty.
Kontakion 13
Oh, most blessed and God-bearing Father Roman! Accept this small prayer offering of ours, and with the Most Holy Lady bring a prayer to the Lord God, that he may deliver us from all harm and sorrow, and make us worthy of His Heavenly Kingdom, where all, ever triumphantly, ceaselessly chant: Alleluia.
(This Kontakion is read three times, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1)
You can reinforce the reading of the akathist by saying a prayer. The prayer to Roman the Sweet Singer has two reading options.
Option 1:
Reverend Father Roman! Look upon us mercifully and lead those who are devoted to the earth to the heights of heaven. You are a mountain in heaven, we are on earth below, removed from you, not only by place, but by our sins and iniquities, but we run to you and cry: teach us to walk in your way, enlighten us and guide us. Your entire holy life has been a mirror of every virtue. Do not stop, servant of God, crying to the Lord for us.
By your intercession, ask from our All-Merciful God the peace of His Church, under the sign of the militant cross, agreement in faith and unity of wisdom, destruction of vanities and schisms, affirmation in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Do not disgrace us, who come to you with faith. All Orthodox Christians, having performed your miracles and beneficent mercies, confess you to be their patron and intercessor. Reveal your ancient mercies, and to whom you helped the Father, do not reject us, their children, who are marching towards you in their footsteps.
Standing before your most honorable icon, as I live for you, we fall down and pray: accept our prayers and offer them up on the altar of God’s mercy, so that we may receive your grace and timely help in our needs. Strengthen our cowardice and confirm us in faith, so that we undoubtedly hope to receive all the good things from the mercy of the Master through your prayers.
Oh, great servant of God! Help all of us who flow to you with faith through your intercession to the Lord, and guide us all in peace and repentance, end our lives and move with hope into the blessed bosom of Abraham, where you now rest joyfully in your labors and struggles, glorifying God with all the saints , in the Trinity glorified, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Option 2
Oh, sacred head, reverend father, most blessed Abvo Roman, do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in your holy and auspicious prayers to God. Remember your flock, which you yourself shepherded, and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, holy father, for your spiritual children, as if you have boldness towards the Heavenly King, do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love.
Remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for the grace has been given to you to pray for us. We do not think that you are dead, even though you have passed away from us in body, but even after death you remain alive. Do not give up on us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of the devil and the snares of the devil, our good shepherd.
Even though your relics are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul with the angelic hosts, with the disembodied faces, with the heavenly powers, standing at the Almighty Throne, rejoices with dignity.
Knowing that you are truly alive even after death, we bow down to you and pray to you: pray for us to the Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, so that we may pass from earth to heaven without restraint, from the bitter ordeals of the demons of the air princes and may we be delivered from eternal torment, and may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, who from all eternity have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His Beginning Father and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
You need to turn to all the saints for help, and St. Roman the Sweet Singer in particular, with deep faith and pure thoughts. It is in this case that you can achieve what you want.
The Lord is always with you!
Watch the video about St. Roman the Sweet Singer:
History has preserved very little information about St. Roman Sladkopevets. He was born at the end of the 5th century. in a Jewish family* in the city of Emesa near Beirut. According to the ancient synaxarion, he served as a deacon there. But another legend says that St. Roman was ordained a deacon already in Constantinople, which was much later. His life says that Roman led an ascetic lifestyle. There is also a legend that before receiving miraculous help from above, he was illiterate.
Either the low moral level of the inhabitants of Beirut, or some other motive was in St. Roman leaves this city, but he moves to Constantinople. It was difficult for him in this brilliant capital of the Byzantine Empire. He received a position as a sexton in one of the churches of the capital. He spent his days at the place of his ministry, working diligently in the temple, and spent the whole night at the always open temple of the Mother of God in Blachernae. In this famous temple, Roman prayed throughout the night. After some time, he went to serve in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the capital. Here, with his diligent service, he attracted the attention of Patriarch Euthymius. In the Greek Church, as in all Balkan Churches, sextons were also psalm-readers, i.e. They combined the church cleaning service with choir service. But, unlike other church servants, St. Roman could not read and could not sing church hymns. However, the patriarch equated him in terms of salary to other temple employees who also carried out choir service. This caused their irritation with Roman, which turned into open persecution. He was oppressed in every possible way. The sensitive soul, kind, warm-hearted and gentle saint suffered greatly from this. And one day, the mockery of him exceeded all measure: during the celebration of the Royal Hours on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of Christ, when Tsar Anastasius was present in the church and there were many clergy and laity, the singers forcibly dragged the saint, who at that time was busy with lamps, to the pulpit, which was elevated in the middle of the church, saying: “If you receive an equal salary with us, do the same service as us.” The monk did not know how to sing and could not read the text, and therefore left the pulpit in shame. It seemed to him that everyone was laughing at him, and it was especially difficult for him to endure such shame in the face of the Tsar... Then it seemed to Roman that there was no way out, and, speaking humanly, he was right. There was no one to tell about my grievance. Contact the Patriarch? - But the patriarch is a person too high and inaccessible, and often one cannot expect cordiality from those who have reached high positions. In addition, if the patriarch had taken part in it and reprimanded the clergy, one can imagine how they would have taken revenge on him. But when the situation is truly hopeless, when a person is completely unable to help himself and expect support from anyone, and at the same time he desperately needs it, then the help of Christ and His Mother reveals itself. It was to Them that the saint resorted. After the completion of the service, when everyone left the temple, he prostrated himself before the image of the Mother of God, and with tears asked Her not to leave him with Her help. In sadness he went home, and because of sadness, without eating food, he fell asleep. In a dream, he saw a vision that was supposed to completely change his life. He saw the Mother of God, in Her hands was a small scroll. She told him in a quiet voice: “Open your mouth.” And when he opened his mouth, the Lady put this scroll in his mouth and said: “Eat it.” He swallowed the scroll and immediately woke up. And he felt extraordinary joy in his heart, and felt that his mind was enlightened. Illiteracy and lack of education suddenly completely disappeared, as if they had never existed, he felt himself in the fullness of great knowledge and great power. And if a few hours ago he left the temple in sadness, with bitter tears, now he was returning to the same temple with great triumph and joy, and a wonderful song was composed in his heart... The divine service began. The patriarch served with a host of bishops and priests, the king was present with nobles and military leaders; the temple was full. The time has come to sing the kontakion of the holiday. And so, to the surprise and even considerable fear of the other clergy, Roman ascended to the pulpit. He unfolded the scroll he was holding in his hands and, with the face of an angel, began to sing in an inspired voice the words and melody he had composed. We don’t know what melody it was, because the Byzantine melodies have not been solved, and, in addition, as can be concluded from the inscription of the kontakions, they had their own melody. But the words composed by St. Roman, we know and solemnly sing them every year at Christmas. These words are as follows:
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Most Essential, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable, Angels and shepherds glorify, and wolves travel with the star.
In a few words, both the depth of the dogmatic mystery and the vastness of the Gospel story of the Nativity of Christ are presented here. The eternal was wonderfully combined with the temporary; the sky - with the earth, the incontainable merged into harmony with the extremely limited: God came down to earth and for the sake of man became Man, and the earth brought its Creator as a gift - a cave, the sky - a star, and humanity brought to God the Most Pure and Blessed Virgin Mary, who participated in reconciliation us with God, so that He could accept human flesh from She who gave Her entire life to God as a perfect sacrifice.
Then Roman chanted the 24 ikos that accompanied this kontakion. (At present, after the kontakion, only one ikos is read, and the kontakion is not chanted on the ambo with the solemnity as it was under St. Roman.)
Everyone in the temple was deeply touched. Rev. Roman rolled up the scroll and humbly stepped down from the pulpit and got lost in the crowd. The Patriarch immediately invited him to the altar and asked him how he composed this divinely inspired work? And the saint revealed everything to him. The Patriarch offered Roman the diaconal service in the cathedral. And then, probably, he revealed to the patriarch that he already had the diaconate, which he received in Beirut, and was living a monastic life. The clergy, who had previously offended the saint, fell at his feet, asking for his forgiveness and begging him to take them as his disciples. The monk immediately forgave them and hugged them and fulfilled their request.
Subsequently St. Roman wrote many kontakia: on the feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, on the events of Holy Week, on Easter and memories of Gospel events, on events from the Old Testament, on themes of Christian life, such as repentance, fasting, etc. These kontakia and the accompanying ikos, numbering from 20 to 30, are written in poetic form and in the rhythm of the corresponding melodies, which, alas, have not been deciphered.
On major holidays, the king invited cathedral singers to his palace, and here the kontakia of St. Romana. His kontakia usually feature an edifying sermon, a dialogue and a concluding prayer: they are rich in both dogmatic content and beauty. Probably, the kontakia were sung antiphonally in two choirs, and then the last verse, which ends all the ikos, was sung by both choirs together. They sang in unison (harmonization was not known until the 15th century), without the accompaniment of any instruments, although in the East and in ancient Hellas religious singing was accompanied by playing musical instruments, but the Orthodox Church rejected this practice. It is also possible that the kontakia were performed similar to the reading of akathists in our country: after the prescribed Gospel reading, instead of a sermon, the priest or deacon read or, better said, sang the text of the kontakion, and the choir sang the last stanza-chorus. As one ancient manuscript says, King Justinian the Great knew Romanus, but whether he became, so to speak, a palace composer - as some claim - remains unconfirmed by sources. One thing can be said: the saint himself did not seek this earthly glory; in one of his ikos he expresses sadness that he has to lead an overly secular lifestyle. This was the period of greatest prosperity, power and culture of Byzantium.
From the many kontakia of St. Only 85 of the novels have reached us; only a few of them have been translated into Russian. In our Church of the creation of St. Romana of the Sweet Singer is, in essence, not used: only a few kontakia remain, accompanied by one ikos. The canons and stichera, written according to a specific plan by later hymns of the Orthodox Church, turned out to be more vital.
St. died Roman in the Avas monastery near Constantinople around 555.* His life says that he was greatly loved and revered by everyone; and, having lived his life pleasing to God and righteously, he went to the eternal villages and now, with angelic choirs, sings the Trisagion to God.
