St Stephen the Sabbaite (+794)

Saint Stephen the Sabbaite, the nephew of John of Damascus (commemorated 4 December), was born in 725. The blessed one was ten years old when he went to the Lavra of Sabbas the Sanctified. From then until the end of his life he laboured in this monastery. The Venerable Stephen was granted by the Lord the gifts of wonderworking and clairvoyance: he healed the sick, cast out demons, and clearly saw the thoughts of those who came to him for counsel… The approach of his end was revealed to the saint beforehand, and in 794 he commended his soul to the Lord in peace. The venerable father’s life was written by his disciple Leontius (see the reading for 28 October).