Mamas

Mamas a saint of the Romish Church, a native of Paphlagonia, flourished in the 3d century. He was born in prison, his mother, Russina, having been arrested on account of her adherence to Christianity. He was brought up by a Christian widow named Ammia, and while a boy was already persecuted for his faith, but wonderfully escaped death. He subsequently preached the Gospel in Caesarea. and died a martyr in 274. He is commemorated on the 17th of August. Mamas was highly honored in the ancient Church. Basil, Gregory of Nazianzen, and Walafrid Strabo make mention of him. See C. Baronii Martyrologium Romanum (Moguntiae, 1631), p. 507; Th. Ruinart, Acta primorum Martyrum (Amst. 1713), p. 264 sq. — Herzog, Real- Encyklopädie, 8:774. (J. N. P.)