In addition to being the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, October 1st is also the Feast of St. Romanos the Melodist, patron saint of cantors, chanters & choirs in our tradition. As such, St. Romanos is also the patron saint of our chant group and this internet-based ministry.
The icon featured here commemorates the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos (Pokrova), and St. Romanos the Melodist is depicted on the kliros beneath the Theotokos, despite having died some 355 years or so before this appearance (icons, being "windows to heaven", can transcend time). By tradition, the famous Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is attributed to St. Romanos, and his musical and poetic talents are attributed to the intervention of the Mother of God herself.
St. Romanos served as a deacon in the Blachernae church of the Theotokos in Constantinople, the same Church in which the Theotokos later appeared on October 1, 911 (Pokrova). It was clear early on in his service that he had no real, natural talent as a reader or chanter. Nonetheless, he yearned with a strong desire to please God with hymns of praise.
The Theotokos appeared to St. Romanos in a dream with a scroll in her hand, which she instructed him to swallow. The next morning, he received a blessing from the Patriarch of Constantinople, who loved him for his great humility, and, from the ambon, chanted what became the Kontakion of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. The congregation and clergy present were amazed by the clarity of the theology of the hymn, and his newly sonorous voice! Tradition maintains that this was the first Kontakion ever written and chanted.
The two Feasts are thus well connected, and that connection is embraced in the iconography of the greater Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos as shown above.
So, we also honor the patron of cantors, chanters and choirs on this, the day of our patron's feast, and do so most appropriately in song by chanting and reflecting on the Troparion for his feast day:
Troparion (Tone 4)
St. Romanos served as a deacon in the Blachernae church of the Theotokos in Constantinople, the same Church in which the Theotokos later appeared on October 1, 911 (Pokrova). It was clear early on in his service that he had no real, natural talent as a reader or chanter. Nonetheless, he yearned with a strong desire to please God with hymns of praise.
The Theotokos appeared to St. Romanos in a dream with a scroll in her hand, which she instructed him to swallow. The next morning, he received a blessing from the Patriarch of Constantinople, who loved him for his great humility, and, from the ambon, chanted what became the Kontakion of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. The congregation and clergy present were amazed by the clarity of the theology of the hymn, and his newly sonorous voice! Tradition maintains that this was the first Kontakion ever written and chanted.
The two Feasts are thus well connected, and that connection is embraced in the iconography of the greater Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos as shown above.
So, we also honor the patron of cantors, chanters and choirs on this, the day of our patron's feast, and do so most appropriately in song by chanting and reflecting on the Troparion for his feast day:
Troparion (Tone 4)
You gladdened Christ's Church with your melodies like an inspired
heavenly trumpet. You were enlightened by the Mother of God and shone on the world as God's poet. We lovingly honor you, O righteous Romanus.
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