Venerable Stephen the Newly-Radiant (+912)

The Venerable Stephen the Newly-Radiant was the son of Zacharias, a pious priest of Constantinople. From childhood he served among the clergy of the Great Church of Constantinople. After his father’s death the Venerable Stephen took on the life of a recluse and made his labours stricter and stricter. The blessed one attained such a degree of perfection that the Lord counted him worthy of a vision of the holy Apostle Peter and Saint Antipas (see the reading for 11 April). The holy father reposed in the schema in 912 (according to other information, in the ninth century). He is called “the Newly-Radiant” because, having become like the ancient ascetics by his fervent labours, he gained great grace and joined their radiant company.