The hymnologist of the Orthodox Church are Christians of virtue and great faith, having been endowed with musical talent as well as the power of religious inspiration. Their creations have enriched our worship services and have helped turn our souls towards God. Perhaps greatest of all hymnologists is St. Romanos the Melodist. Many other hymnologists had written ecclesiastical hymns, but none of them inspired the Christians as much as Romanos.

Romanos was a Syrian Christian who lived in the beginning of the sixth century. A convert to Orthodoxy from Judaism, he was ordained a deacon and served in the church of Beirut, Lebanon. His was a great talent. Unlike others, he wrote his hymns in a simple language and produced a pleasant meter in the verse by the way he accented words. The hymns composed by Romanos appealed to the hearts of the people, and are still sung today. Romanos has been called "Sweet Singer" (Glykophonos), "Melodist" (Melodhos), and "Righteous Chanter" (Psaitis Dhikeosinis).

Romanos wrote hundreds of hymns celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the living of a Christian life. One of his most famous compositions is the hymn celebrating the Nativity of our Lord, "Today the Virgin gives birth to One who is above all living things..." (I Parthenos Simeron). Romanos is also said to have composed the Akathistos Hymnos, a kontakion which we still chant during the Heretismi services during Great Lent.

Romanos died on October 1^st in 510 AD. He was a productive genius and artist, writing and accenting thousands of Kontakia. He has been called the patron saint of all who sing for the Church. Others say he is the leader in the world of religious hymnology. Surely, he has made a profound contribution to divine worship and deserves to be recognized by all who sing and by all who listen to the hymnology of our services.

The first Sunday after the Feast of St. Romanos has been designated by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios as NATIONAL CHURCH MUSIC SUNDAY. Each year on this Sunday, we pause to honor the gifts and contributions of our church musicians -- clergy, choir directors, psaltai, choir members, organists, and Church School music educators. We thank them for their devotion to the Church through their Ministry of Music.

Let us not regard how we shall have wealth,
but how we shall present with confidence to God
the souls with which we are entrusted.

St. John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians