Saint Mammas the Martyr

Holy Martyr Mamas (3^rd)

The Martyrdom of His Parents

The Holy Great Martyr Mamas was born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor in the third century. His parents, the Christians Theodotus and Rufina,

were fervent and pious, spending time in worship and visiting the families to confirm their faith. They would serve the poor and needy, and so were greatly favored by the people. Yet, the enemy of mankind stirred some people to go to the governor Alexandros and inform against them.

The parents of the saint were arrested by the governor and commanded to worship the idols. At their refusal, they were locked up in prison. Seeing their determined confession of faith, he sent them to Faustus the governor of Ceasarea. They were very tired for travelling on foot without any food. Faustus threatened to kill them, but they remained indifferent.

Theodotus passed away due to exhaustion, then Rufina gave birth to a male child and died at once before giving him any name.

This is how the child was born in prison and his parents did not see him.

Receiving the Name Mamas

A pious Christian woman named Ammia had a vision during her prayers: she was invited to go to prison and ask about a newborn orphan child.

She went to prison, and the Lord arranged for her to receive the child, and take the two bodies, which she buried in a garden of her own. The relics emanated with a fragrant perfume.

Ammia took care of the child and considered it a heavenly gift.

The child grew up and used to call his adopted mother "mama" (in Greek, "mamas"), and out of great joy, she called him "Mamas".

He enjoyed the word of the Gospel and learned to pray. He was happy about the lives of the martyr saints, especially the biographies of his parents. At the age of five, he went to church school, where he learned a lot about the Bible.

At the age of twelve, his nanny Ammia died, so he gave everything he inherited from her to the church, which distributed it to the poor.

He witnessed to the Lord Jesus among the pagans and attracted many young men to the faith.

Mama and the Lion

Saint Basil and Saint Gregory Nazianzus mention that Saint Mamas was a shepherd in Caesarea of Cappadocia. He used to drink sheep milk and make cheese for food. Since his youth, he sought the kingdom of God with all his heart, and devoted him

self to serving others.

Many gathered around him, so he testified for the Lord Christ and preached the good news of salvation, even caring for their material needs and feeding them.

Because of his faith, he endured awful torture with joy until he was awarded the crown of martyrdom around AD 275.

According to Eastern tradition, Saint Mamas was martyred during the time of Emperor Aurelian by stoning while he was still a young man. However, Western tradition states that he was subject to a very long torture from his youth until he became an old man.

The families of the young men who accepted the faith of informed on him before the new ruler Democritus. The ruler summoned him and tried to seduce him to give in, but in vain. He was sent to the emperor who underestimated him as a young boy.

The emperor ordered beat him with sticks until his body had smashed and he was sent back to prison. They lit a fire to terrorize him, but he desired to become a burnt offering to the Lord. However, he was not thrown into fire, as the Emperor did not give an order.

The king ordered him to be tied with chains and thrown into the sea, but God’s care saved him and the wa

ves threw him ashore. Mamas set off to the neighboring hills and dwelt among the beasts as their friend.

 

Accused of witchcraft:

He was envied by the enemy of humankind, who instigated some people against him. They falsely claimed to the governor of the region that he was a magician. He sent a group of soldiers to arrest him, but he received them lovingly and cheerfully. Then they asked him to go with them to the ruler.

The soldiers testified that he was neither a wizard nor an evil man. Angered, the ruler sent him to the emperor, who ordered that he be hung, his body combed, his flesh cut, and then thrown into prison.

The Lord healed his wounds, and then the prisoners came to him moaning from hunger. So, he prayed for them, and God sent someone to provide food. The prison doors were opened and the prisoners came out.

Then, the emperor ordered to throw him into a furnace of fire. But a torrential rain fell, and the fire went out. The emperor ordered that he be beheaded and so he yielded his soul. He was about 15 years old. He was buried in the city of Caesarea of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor.

Orpheus relates that he went out to live in the village with the animals, and that he lived on milk and honey. When the tormentors released ferocious beasts against him, the beasts treated him like a shepherd among his lambs; they lay at his feet in submission and happiness.

Then they released a huge lion, which started licking the martyr's feet. When the torturing soldiers went to see him, the lion grabbed them and threw them at the martyr's feet.