Stephen of Galatia

Holy Martyr Stephen of Galatia was a tribune of the regiment of the commander Meletius and was beheaded for confessing Christ, around the year 218, along with many soldiers.

In the time of the Roman emperor Antoninus Elagabalus (218-222), Meletius was commander of the region of Galatia. A Christian, he prayed earnestly that the Lord would put an end to pagan error. The demons of the idol temples, terrified by his prayer, entered dogs, which with their howling spread fear among the inhabitants. Meletius, with his soldiers, killed the rabid dogs, pulled down the temples, and was seized and brought before the governor Maximian. For refusing to sacrifice to the idols he was tormented and died confessing Christ. The tribunes of the regiment, the martyrs Stephen and John, were beheaded for confessing Christ, the true God. The other soldiers, who declared themselves Christians too, were put to the sword with their wives and children; 1,218 people perished, by some sources 11,000. Theodore and Faustus, with many others, were burned. The names of twelve tribunes are known, among them Stephen, and of some women and infants.

Stephen is commemorated on 6 June, in the new style.