We do not know much about Saint Romanos, but we know that he was born in the city of Homs and became a deacon of the Church of Beirut. Then he moved to the city of Constantinople during the days of Emperor Anastasius I and Patriarch Euphemius (490-496 AD).

From an early age, he was burning with love for God, walking in virtue, faithful to serving the Mother of God, and persevering in the rituals of the church. His desire to glorify the Mother of God was unbridled, but his talents and vocal ability were below his ambitions. It happened, once, during Christmas Eve, in the Blachern Church in Constantinople, that the Mother of God appeared to him with a scroll in her hand and gave it to him to eat. As soon as he tasted it, an extraordinary sweetness filled his mouth, so he ascended to the pulpit and began to recite in an angelic voice the well-known hymn to the Mother of God: “Today the virgin gives birth to the Substantial One, and the earth brings the cave closer to him who does not approach him.” The angels with the shepherds glorify, and the wise men walk with the star on the way, because a new boy has been born for us, the God who is before the ages.”

Since then, the gift of the Holy Spirit flowed into him and continued until the day of his death. He produced a huge number of songs covering most of the liturgical holidays of the year. Romanos is the creator of the chants known as Qandaq. The Qandaq is a collection of so-called verses, ranging in number from twenty to twenty-four verses, each verse containing a number of troparias. It is said that Saint Romanos produced a thousand of these jellyfish, of which only eighty remain today. Among the chants attributed to him is the Praise of the Mother of God, which the Church used to sing during the period of Great Lent of the year.

It is noteworthy that Saint Romanos was the first to put the letter (T) in Greek before his name, and the letter refers to the word (Tapinos), which means despicable or servile. This same sign was later adopted by the bishops, and it took the form of a small cross.

In the evening prayer for his feast, the church sings the following expressive hymn to him: “O our honorable father Romanos, you have become a principle of goodness and a cause of salvation, and when you composed your angelic hymns, I proved, in truth, the holiness of your conduct. So pray to Christ God, how can He protect your chanterelles from pests and dangers?

Saint Romanos fell asleep in the Lord, in the city of Constantinople (currently in Turkey), as a deacon in the Great Church, in the year 530 AD.

From the sayings of Saint Romanos:

Let us search the Holy Book for what it bestows of grace and what it contains of meaning, as it is the guide that leads everyone to hope that does not fade: this is the benefit of all God-inspired books. So let us fall down at the feet of Christ our Savior and cry out to Him devoutly, saying: “O King of kings and Lover of mankind, grant knowledge to all, and guide us in the path of Your commandments so that we may know the path of the Kingdom, for they are the ones we aspire to follow so that we may also have an incorruptible crown.

Hymn to the Virgin by Saint Romanos the Psalmist:

• The one who was born before the morning star from the father without a mother was incarnated today on earth from you without a father. Therefore, the star announces to the Magi about your indescribable birth, and angels with the shepherds praise you, O full of grace. The vine sprouted a cluster without a tiller, and carried it in its arms like a branch, and said: “You are my fruit, you are my life.” I did not know how I became pregnant and how you died from me and remained a virgin. You left my insides as you found them and kept them safe. So the whole creation rejoices over me and exclaims: O full of grace.
• O Master, I did not deny your grace when I experienced it. I did not despise the honor that I achieved when I gave birth to you. By your condescension, you turned my poverty into wealth. You humbled yourself and exalted my race. Now, rejoice with me, O earth and heaven, because I hold your Creator in my hand. O inhabitants of the earth, keep sorrows away and see the joy that springs forth from my pure womb, and I heard: O you, full of grace. The creator replied: I was overcome by love, my love for man. I, mother, do not make you sad, but rather I will teach you what I want to accomplish. I will bring reassurance to your soul, Mary. After a while, you will see me as the one you hold in your hands, holding hands together, out of love for humanity. The one you breastfeed will be given bitterness to others, the one you kiss will endure insults and blows, and the one you call life you will see hanging on the cross, and you will cry as if he were dead. You will kiss me when I rise, O full of grace.
• I will willingly bear all this pain. And the cause of these sufferings will be My good purpose, which from ancient times until now I continue to display, as God, to save mankind.
• When Mary heard these words, she sighed deeply and cried. The child shouted at her, saying: Stop the tears, mother, and do not cry for what you do not know. If this matter is not fulfilled, all human beings will perish. Believe me, mother, my death is slumber. When I voluntarily completed three days in the grave, I appeared to you alive to renew the earth and renew the children of the earth. Preach this, mother, preach to everyone.
• Immediately, Mary went out to Adam and Eve, bringing them good news and saying: Relax for a while and listen to him say that he will endure the suffering for you who called me: O full of grace.

Christmas Hymn by Romanos the Psalmist:

• Today the virgin gives birth to the Supreme Substance, and the earth brings the cave closer to the unapproachable. The angels are glorified with the shepherds, and the Magi are walking with the planet. Because for our sake a new child was born, the God who was before the ages.
• Come, let us see that Bethlehem opens again. We have found bliss in secret, so let us reap the fruits of paradise inside the cave. There appeared an unwatered root from which forgiveness branches. There was an undug well from which David longed to drink. There, the Virgin, when she gave birth to a child, immediately quenched the thirst of Adam and David. Therefore, let us hasten to him, to where a new child was born, the God who existed before the ages.
• The mother's father becomes a son willingly. The Savior of children lays a baby in a manger. The mother looked at him and exclaimed: Tell me, my son, how were you planted and how did they grow in me? How can I breastfeed you without having a husband? I see you in swaddling clothes and my virginity has not been broken. You preserved it when you agreed to give birth to a new child. You are the God who is before the ages.
• Save the world, O Savior, because you came for this. Confirm all those who believe in you, because for this you shone for me, for the Magi, and for all of creation. Behold, the Magi, to whom you showed the light of your countenance, prostrate themselves before you, offering beautiful gifts. I seek her help because I will go to Egypt and flee with you for your sake. You are my leader, my child, my creator, my savior, the new child, the God before the ages.