Hierarch 8th century

Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer Bishop of Maiuma

8th century (died 773 or 794)

Also known as Cosmas of Maiuma

Raised with Saint John of Damascus, he became a monk and later Bishop of Maiuma, writing many hymns and canons for Orthodox worship.

Feast Day

October 12

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Cosmas the Hymnographer, Bishop of Maiuma

Life

Cosmas the Hymnographer was an eighth-century monk and bishop of the Holy Land, remembered above all as one of the great melodists of the Byzantine Church. Born in Damascus, Syria, he was orphaned young and adopted into the household of Sergius, father of John of Damascus, so that the two were raised together as foster-brothers.

Both boys were educated by an elderly Calabrian monk, also named Cosmas, who had been enslaved by Saracens and is distinguished from his pupil as 'Cosmas the Monk.' The two foster-brothers later traveled to the Holy Land and entered the monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (Mar Saba), where they jointly defended the veneration of icons during the iconoclast persecution.

In 743 Cosmas was made Bishop of Maiuma, the port city of ancient Gaza, leaving the monastic life for the episcopate. He outlived John of Damascus by many years and died in great old age. He is venerated as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and is regarded as a patron of hymnographers.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

8th century Born in Damascus Cosmas was born in Damascus, Syria. Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted by Sergius, the father of John of Damascus, and raised alongside John as his foster-brother.
Youth Educated by Cosmas the Monk An elderly Calabrian monk also named Cosmas, who had been enslaved by Saracens, taught both boys; he is called 'Cosmas the Monk' to distinguish him from his pupil.
Adulthood Monk at Mar Saba Cosmas and John of Damascus traveled to the Holy Land and became monks at the monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (Mar Saba), where Cosmas became renowned for his ascetic life. There the two came forward to defend Orthodoxy during the iconoclast persecution.
743 Made Bishop of Maiuma Cosmas was appointed Bishop of Maiuma, the port city of ancient Gaza, and left monastic life for the episcopate.
773 or 794 Repose Having outlived John of Damascus by many years, Cosmas died in great old age.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Foster-Brother of John of Damascus

Cosmas's life was bound closely to that of John of Damascus. Orphaned young, he was taken into the household of John's father, Sergius, and the two were raised together. Their shared education under the captive monk Cosmas the Monk and their common entry into the monastery of Mar Saba made them lifelong companions in both learning and ascetic struggle.

During the iconoclast controversy, the two foster-brothers together defended the Church's veneration of icons. Cosmas outlived John by many years, dying at an advanced age.

Hymnography and Liturgical Contributions

Cosmas is counted among the foremost hymnographers of the Byzantine Church. Working alongside John of Damascus, he contributed to the development of the Octoechos, the system that organizes liturgical chant into eight modes. Liturgical tradition attributes fourteen canons to him.

His compositions include canons for the Matins of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, and three-canticle canons (Triodes) for the days of Holy Week. He wrote the first canon of the Nativity, based on a sermon of Gregory the Theologian, and the Canon for Christmas Day, often regarded as his finest work.

His most renowned composition is the irmos 'More honourable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim,' sung at the Ninth Ode of the Canon at Matins and forming part of the Axion Estin used at Matins and the Divine Liturgy. As a scholar he also composed commentaries (scholia) on the poems of Gregory of Nazianzus.

Veneration

Cosmas is venerated as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches and is honored as a patron of hymnographers. Orthodox tradition praises him as 'a vessel of divine grace' and 'the glory of the Church.'

His feast is kept on October 12 in Slavic Orthodox usage and on October 14 in Greek usage (Julian Calendar).

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints