First of all, who was Saint Mamas, or Aghios Mamas? Well, none of the locals, young or old, we asked in Aghia Marina knew, although they thought he was a local saint. He was actually a shepherd from Cyprus, who was persecuted by the Romans (who were then still pagan) in the 3rd century AD for being a devout Christian. He is celebrated by the Greek Orthodox church in Greece and Cyprus, and also by the Russian Orthodox church. Sources: various Internet sites. More information about him appears at the foot of this page after the pictures:
Firstly an inscription on the side of the building, hoping someone will translate for me:
View of the facade, yet more inscription needing to be translated:
View of the back wall, inside. This was taken with flash, as on the night of the festival, the church was open, but in darkness. It was not seen open again during the week.
Information about Saint Mamas
Saint Mamas was a third century Cappadocian shepherd who
left the wolves of the city and preached to the animals in the
wilderness. He made such an impression on one lion that it followed him
everywhere and liked to lick Saint Mamas's limbs. When the Aurelian persecutors
came to get Saint Mamas to have him stoned to death, Saint Mamas ordered the
lion back to his lair. Sobbing, the lion obeyed. Saint Mamas is the patron
saint of guardians, orphans, torture victims, and the cathedral of Langres,
France, where his relics were taken in the eighth century.
His parents Theodotos and Roufina lived in Gaggra of Paflagonia during the reign of emperor Aurilianos who exercised a systematic campaign against the Christians (270 - 275 AD). Because of their Christian beliefs, Theodotos and Roufina (who was pregnant at the time), were arrested and imprisoned. While in prison she gave birth to Mamas but her husband died before he could see the newborn baby and soon after she died also. Mamas, who was raised by a lady called Ammia Matrona, turned towards the teaching of Christianity during his teenage years. As a result he was arrested at the age of 15, he was tortured and finally killed because of his refusal to abandon Christianity. "
Another account:
"A Cypriot icon presents St Mamas riding a lion while holding a stick with his right hand and a sheep in his left arm. According to this tradition, this Saint Mamas was a monk living in a cave near the town of Morphou [Turkish-occupied Cyprus]. Once he was arrested by the Ottoman authorities because he was refusing to pay tax. As he was led to court by the Turkish policemen they came across a lion chasing a sheep. He called the lion to stop and come near him. The wild animal did and Mamas rode on the lion's back holding the sheep in his hand, all the way to the court. When the judge witnessed this unusual event, he ordered his release and granted him exclusion from taxation. St Mamas gave the sheep as a gift to the judge. "
Here is a Russian Orthodox account of him:
"Holy Martyr Mamas, son
of the eminent Christians Theodotus and Rufina, was born in Paphlagonia.
Because they openly confessed their Faith, Theodotus and Rufina were arrested
and cast into prison in Caesarea of Cappodocia. Cognizant of his physical
weakness, Theodotus prayed that the Lord might take him before he was tortured.
The Lord heard Theodotus’ prayer, and Theodotus died in prison. Thereafter, St.
Rufina also died. Untimely separated from her son, she prayerfully entrusted him
to God, asking Him to be Protector and Intercessor for the orphaned youth. God
heeded St. Rufina’s deathbed prayer. A wealthy Christian widow named Ammia
interred the bodies of Saints Theodotus and Rufina with honor, and took the
child to her home, where she lavished motherly care upon him. St. Mamas grew up
a committed Christian. Taking pains to see that he developed his natural
abilities, his new mother enrolled him in school. The boy learned eagerly and
with ease. He was discerning beyond his years and excelled in early maturity of
mind and heart. Through learned speeches and by his personal example, the young
Mamas turned many of his contemporaries to Christianity. Word of this was
relayed to Governor Democritus, who had the youth arrested and brought to
trial. Out of respect for Mamas’ noble birth, Democritus was reluctant to
subject him to torture, and instead sent him to Emperor Aurelius (270-275), who
strove. first with pleasant words and then with threats, to turn St. Mamas
toward paganism. However, all of his efforts were in vain. The Saint
fearlessly confessed himself to be a Christian, and denounced the pagans for
worshipping lifeless idols. The incensed emperor subjected the youth to cruel
tortures. They attempted to drown the Saint, but an Angel of the Lord rescued
Mamas and directed him to live on a high mountain in the desert not far from
Caesarea. Submitting to the will of God, the Saint built a small church and set
out on a life of strict asceticism, struggling in fasting and prayer.
Soon thereafter, he
received amazing power over the forces of nature. The beasts of the surrounding
desert would come to his dwelling and listen to the reading of the Holy Gospel.
St. Mamas lived on the milk of wild goats and does.
The Saint was mindful
of his neighbors’ needs. From the milk, he made cheese, which he distributed to
the poor without seeking remuneration. Soon all of Caesarea had heard of St.
Mamas’ God-pleasing manner of life. The ruler, troubled by this, sent a
detachment of soldiers to seize him. They encountered St. Mamas on the mountain
but did not recognize him, and instead took him to be a simple shepherd. The
Saint invited them into his hut, gave them milk to drink, and then, knowing that
martyrdom from Christ’s sake awaited him, revealed his name to them. Offering
himself up to the torturers, St. Mamas was tried before the local official
Alexander, who subjected him to intense and prolonged tortures. However, they
were unable to break the Saint’s Christian will. He gained strength from words
from above, “Be resolute and brave, Mamas.” Although the Saint was sentenced
to be devoured by beasts, the beasts refused to touch him. Then one of the
pagan priests stabbed him with a trident. Mortally wounded, St Mamas walked out
of the town and in a little stone cave rendered up his soul to God, Who in
everyone’s hearing called Holy Martyr Mamas to the heavenly abode (+275). The
faithful interred him at the place of his repose.
Soon thereafter,
Christians began to receive from him grace-filled help with their illnesses and
sorrows. In a public homily, the Holy Hierarch St. Basil the Great said of Holy
Martyr Mamas: “Remember the Holy Martyr. Those who have seen him in visions,
those living here who have him as their helper, those who have invoked his name
and whom he has materially assisted, those errant ones whom he has set on the
path of life, those whom he has healed of sicknesses, those whose children,
already dead, he has returned to life, those whose life he has prolonged – all
gather together and offer praise to the Martyr.”