Stephen of Constantinople

Venerable Stephen was a Byzantine monk of the sixth or seventh century, once a servant of the emperor Maurice, who left the court and founded homes for the elderly in Constantinople. He died in peace, according to one source in the year 614. He is commemorated on 27 February by the old calendar, which is 12 March by the new.

Stephen had been a kitonites, that is, a servant of the bedchamber of the emperor Maurice. He left his service at court and began to live in asceticism, moved by the love of Christ. He founded the homes for the elderly in Constantinople, in the Armatia quarter, where the church of the Mother of God of the Robe stood. He gave himself entirely to the service of hospitality and mercy toward the infirm.

In the Menologion of Basil II (end of the tenth century) and in the Synaxarion of the Church of Constantinople (tenth century) his commemoration is on 26 February, while the Serbian source gives 27 February, so the day is not the same in all sources. His name is not found in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.