St. Romanos was born in Syria in the fifth century. He was a convert from Judaism and was baptized as a young boy. He eventually became an altar boy, and later became a singer and reader in the church in Constantinople. He was always the first to arrive at church and the last to leave. His voice, however, was mediocre. He loved to sing with the choir, but the choir didn't always love to sing with him, and they only occasionally invited him to join in.

Still, he was loved for his purity of heart and devotion, and the bishop of Constantinople was so impressed with him that he made him one of the official singers in a prominent Constantinople church. Unfortunately, this decision sparked envy in the other singers, who resented Romanos's seemingly unwarranted promotion.

On Christmas Eve the services drew massive crowds, including the Emperor and his court. The Patriarch was also present, and the choir was under great pressure to perform well. Each year, a singer was asked to improvise a solo hymn. When it came time for a singer to step forward, the jealous singers pushed Romanos forward, saying, “If you are so good, sing a hymn as we do.”

Romanos panicked. He could not speak, let alone sing. He trembled as the crowds looked on. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he crouched behind the other singers.

After the service, he sat in the empty church. Incense lingered in the air, and the vigil lamps sparkled before the icons. He felt like a complete failure. He gazed at an icon of the Virgin Mary, asking her if she might help him find appropriate words to glorify her son.

That night, he dreamt that the Virgin Mary held a scroll out to him and directed him to swallow it. As Romanos swallowed the scroll, sweetness filled his body. He was overcome with joy and awe.

The next morning, during the Christmas service, a singer was again expected to step forward to sing an improvised hymn. This time, Romanos was ready. He sang the words from the night before, stunning the crowds and impressing the Patriarch, who came up afterward to ask who had taught him the hymn.

An excerpt from St. Romanos's Christmas hymn: “Today the Virgin gives birth to him who is above all being, and the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable One. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and magi journey with a star, for to us there has been born a little Child, God before the ages.”

Romanos shared his experience with the Patriarch. The other singers, who had once derided him, prostrated themselves before him and begged for forgiveness. St. Romanos continued to compose hymns for the rest of his life. Over 1,000 poetic hymns are attributed to him. He is commemorated on October 1.