Venerable Cosmas, Bishop of Maiuma, Hymnographer (+c. 787)

The Venerable Cosmas, bishop of Maiuma and hymnographer, was born in Jerusalem, but was brought up in Damascus by the parents of the Venerable John of Damascus. Like John, he received a brilliant education, and then, when he came of age, withdrew to one of the houses of Palestine. During the persecution of the holy icons the Venerable Cosmas, together with Saint John, rose to defend Orthodoxy. They wrote many works to expose the iconoclasts. In 743 Cosmas was appointed bishop of Maiuma. The Lord’s chosen one committed his soul to the Lord in deep old age (+c. 787), and left us many festal canons and hymns.