Holy Martyr Mammas

Life

By birth from Paphlagonia, of distinguished Christian parents, Theodotus and Rufina. His parents had been cast into prison for the name of Christ. In prison his father died first; and his mother, after giving birth to him, also departed this life. Thus the newborn infant remained in prison between the dead bodies of his parents. But God the Provider sent His angel to a certain noble widow, Ammia, to whom the angel appeared in a dream and told her to go to the prison and take the child to herself. Ammia obtained permission from the governor to bury the dead, and took the child into her home. Only when he reached the age of five did the child begin to speak, and his first word was "Mama!" — on account of which he received the name Mammas. In school Mammas showed unusual intelligence; and since he had been raised at home in the Christian spirit, he did not conceal his faith but confessed it before his peers, mocking the idols. In the time of Emperor Aurelian there was a fierce persecution of Christians. The pagans did not spare even Christian children. Mammas was fifteen years old when he was brought before the emperor. The emperor told him to at least renounce Christ with his lips only, to which Mammas replied: "Neither by heart nor by lips will I renounce my God and King Jesus Christ." The emperor ordered that he be beaten, burned with candles, and finally cast into the sea. But an angel of God saved him and led him to a high mountain near Caesarea. There he lived in solitude and prayer. Through his holiness the wild beasts became tame around him. At last he was found there, too, by the persecutors and again subjected to torments. Having conquered the power of both fire and wild beasts, holy Mammas was pierced with a trident by a certain pagan priest. And thus he surrendered his holy soul to God, to whom he had remained faithful through all his torments. From his relics many healings of the sick took place.

From the Hymn of Praise

Pious Mammas, born in prison,From his very first day kinsman of Jesus;His father and mother, martyrs of God,Gave birth to their only child in a dark prison cell.