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Cosmas, the Melodist
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Short Name: Cosmas, the Melodist
Full Name: Cosmas, the Melodian, Saint, ca. 706-ca. 760
Birth Year: 706
Death Year (est.): 760

Cosmas, St., The Melodist. (Died circ. A.D. 760.) The second among the Greek ecclesiastical poets. He was adopted by the father of St. John of Damascus, and educated with him by a Sicilian monk also named Cosmas, who had been redeemed from slavery by his adopted father. The two foster-brothers retired together to St. Sabas, and there stimulated, assisted and vied witii one another in the composition of hymns. It is not certain whether some of the Canons, Triodia, and Idiomela under the name of Cosmas may not be the work of the elder Cosmas. He was elected Bishop of Maiuma in A.D. 743, and is commemorated in the Greek Calendar on Oct. 14. The story of Cosmas the elder is beautifully told in Milman's Lat. Christ., vol. ii. 364. Daniel, vol. iii., gives 12 pieces by him, and Dr. Neale has translated in his Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1862, the Canon for Christmas Day, and a cento from that for the Transfiguration. To English readers he is known through the translation of this cento, "The choirs of ransom'd Israel," and its abbreviated form, "In days of old on Sinai." [Rev. H. Leigh Bennett, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by Cosmas, the Melodist (17)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
As Jonah, Issuing from His Three Days' TombCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English5
Christ is born, go forth to meet HimCosmas the Melodist (Author)English3
Christ is Born! Tell Forth His Fame!Cosmas the Melodist (Author)English7
Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, δοξάσατεCosmas, the Melodist (Author)Greek2
Father of Peace, and God of ConsolationCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English3
He who with His mighty handCosmas the Melodist (Author)English4
Him of the Father's Very EssenceCosmas Saint (Author)English3
In days of old on SinaiCosmas of Jerusalem, fl. 8th century) (Author)English4
O Jesus, Lover of our raceSt. Cosmas, died 760 A. D. (Author)English2
O Wondrous Mystery, Full of Passing GraceCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English3
Ῥάβδος ἐχ τῆς ῥίζης ἸεσσαὶCosmas, the Melodist (Author)Greek2
Rod of the Root of JesseCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English4
The Choirs of Ransomed IsraelCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English3
The dewy freshness that the furnace flingsCosmas Saint (Author)English3
The Holy Children Boldly StandCosmas, the Melodist (Author)English3
The sepulchre is holding Cosmas, the Melodist (Author)4
വാനോർ വാ-ഴ്ത്തും ക്രിസ്തു യേശു (Vānēār vā-ḻttuṁ kristu yēśu)Cosmas, the Melodist (Author)Malayalam2
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