Cosmas of Maiuma

Who they were

Cosmas, foster-brother of St John of Damascus, was taught with him by a learned Sicilian monk. Both became monks at St Sabas near Jerusalem, until in 743 Cosmas was made Bishop of Maiuma, the port of Gaza.

With St John of Damascus he is counted the finest of the later Greek hymn-writers; his canons came into use throughout the Greek Church.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A monk and bishop who gave the Church hymns still sung today.

Connected on this site

• John of Damascus Saint Brother or sister
  “Cosmas, foster-brother of St John of Damascus, was taught with him by a learned Sicilian monk.” — this site's research