Mamas

Holy Martyr Mamas of Caesarea.

St. Mamas was a young shepherd of Caesarea in Cappadocia, born to parents who had themselves suffered imprisonment for Christ. Living simply in the hills with his flock, he confessed the faith openly during the persecutions of the third century and endured torture and death rather than deny his Lord.

He has been venerated from ancient times as a protector of shepherds and their flocks, and churches in his honor spread throughout Cappadocia, Cyprus, and Greece. He is commemorated on September 2.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Mamas is commemorated on September 2. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on September 15 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Mamas, Mammas

Also commemorated on September 2

• John the Faster of Constantinople

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης ο Νηστευτής

  St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople, renowned for his ascetic fasting.

• Theodosius of the Kiev Caves

  Venerable, Θεοδόσιος των Σπηλαίων

  Venerable Theodosius, abbot of the Kiev Caves Lavra and father of Russian monasticism.

• Diomedes, Julian, Philip and those with them

  Martyr, Διομήδης, Ιουλιανός, Φίλιππος

  Holy Martyrs Diomedes, Julian, Philip, Eutychian, Hesychius, Leonides, Philadelphus, Melanippus and Parthagape.

• Eleazar and Phinehas the Righteous

  Saint, Ελεάζαρ και Φινεές

  Righteous Eleazar and Phinehas, high priests of Israel, son and grandson of Aaron.

• Kosmas the Hermit and Confessor

  Venerable, Κοσμάς ο Ερημίτης

  Venerable Kosmas the hermit and confessor.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.