Cosmas (Greek: Κοσμάς) was born in Damascus, modern-day Syria,[2] but he was orphaned at a young age.

[3] John and Cosmas went from Damascus to Jerusalem, where both became monks in the lavra-type monastery of Sabbas the Sanctified near that city[which?].

As a learned prose-author, Cosmas wrote commentaries, or scholia, on the poems of Gregory of Nazianzus.

Cosmas and John of Damascus are considered to be the best representatives of the later Greek classical hymnography, the most characteristic examples of which are the artistic liturgical chants known as "canons".

[6] His most well-known composition is "More honourable than the cherubim…" (which is included in the Axion Estin), sung regularly at Matins, the Divine Liturgy and other services.