Martyr Mamas of Cæsarea in Cappadocia and his parents Theodotus and Rufina

According to his Life, Mamas was born in prison in Caesarea in Cappadocia. His parents, Theodotus and Rufina, were nobles from Paphlagonia who had been arrested as Christians; Theodotus died in prison and Rufina died soon after giving birth. A noblewoman named Ammia took the boy in and raised him. His first word, "mamma", gave him his name.

As a youth of about fifteen he was denounced under Emperor Aurelian for converting his schoolmates. The Life tells that he was tortured, thrown to wild animals that did not harm him, and finally struck with a trident by a pagan priest. He died outside the city, in the 270s. The Church of Cappadocia honoured him early; Basil the Great preached on his feast.