Saint Mamas (Mammes) the Martyr

Mamas was born around 260 in the prison at Gangra, where his parents, Theodotus and Rufina, were held for being Christians and died there in prayer. Left an orphan, he was adopted by a wealthy Christian woman, Ammia, who raised him with affection; tradition says his name came from his constantly calling her "mama."

At fifteen he was arrested for openly confessing Christ. He was tortured, thrown into the sea weighted down, cast into a blazing furnace and thrown to wild beasts, surviving each ordeal by what tradition calls a miracle, until he was finally fatally wounded with a trident.