Stephen I of Constantinople

Saint Stephen I of Constantinople, hierarch, was ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople from 886 until his death, in 893, born in the capital. He is commemorated on 18 May.

His life

Stephen was born in November 867 at Constantinople, the son of Eudokia Ingerina and, by name, of the emperor Basil I. But since Eudokia had then been the mistress of the emperor Michael III, it is very probable that he, like his elder brother, Leo VI the Wise, was Michael’s son. He was castrated by Basil I and, from childhood, was prepared for a career in the Church. He was disciple and syncellus of Patriarch Photios. In 886 his brother, the new emperor Leo VI, removed Photios and made Stephen patriarch, aged nineteen; since the see of Heraclea was vacant, he was ordained by the metropolitan of Caesarea, Theophanes.

His patriarchate

As patriarch he took part in the solemn reburial of the remains of Michael III in the imperial mausoleum beside the church of the Holy Apostles, made by Leo. He won a reputation for piety. He liked to help the poor, widows and orphans, using his ties with the emperor. It is told that when he fell gravely ill because of his austere life, he was healed by using the holy water of the spring of the Mother of God at Balukli, and in gratitude he clothed the Holy Table of the church there with his vestments.

Repose

He died in May 893, aged twenty-⁠five or twenty-⁠six, the youngest of the patriarchs. After his death, the emperor Leo set Antony II on the throne. He was buried in the monastery of Sikelliou. The Orthodox Church numbered him among the saints.