Stephen of Vladimir-⁠Volynsk

Venerable Stephen, bishop of Vladimir-⁠Volynsk, born about 1040 and dead on 27 April 1094, lived from his youth at the Kyiv Caves Lavra, under obedience to Saint Theodosius, whose beloved disciple he was. He was abbot of the Caves, founded the Klov monastery, and was afterwards bishop in Volhynia. He is remembered on 27 April.

Disciple of Theodosius

He was born about 1040 and, according to one source, came from a boyar or Bulgarian family, since in some sources he is called the Bulgarian. From his youth, by some accounts between 1060 and 1062, he lived in the Caves monastery under the guidance of Saint Theodosius, whose beloved disciple he was. After his tonsure he was made leader of the choir, that is, the cantor who watched over the order of the services, and often, at Theodosius's bidding, taught the brethren with the word of God.

In 1074, at the request of the brethren, Theodosius, before his death, appointed him abbot of the Caves monastery, charging him to keep the monastery's rule faithfully and to finish the building of the great church, already begun. Stephen brought the building of the church to completion in its main lines, moved the brethren's cells closer to the church, raised a wooden wall around the new monastery and arranged a large court for the reception of strangers. He was abbot about three years.

The Klov monastery and the episcopate

In 1078, for reasons unknown, because the monks demanded it, Stephen had to give up the leadership of the monastery and even leave it, before finishing the building that Theodosius had left. One source says the enemy kindled malice in the hearts of the monks. It is told that he prayed for those who stirred up the disorder, with the words of his namesake, the first martyr: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

Soon he founded a new monastery, Klov, on another spur of the Caves hill, in the place called Klov, with the help of pious boyars. A Ukrainian source says it was dedicated to the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God at Blachernae. Generous gifts allowed it to be set up quickly. One source says Khan Batu destroyed it in 1240, another that the Cumans destroyed it in 1096.

About 1090 he was made bishop of Vladimir-⁠Volynsk, according to one source by Metropolitan John of Kyiv, after the death of Bishop Elijah, and in his new ministry he was present at the translation of the relics of his teacher, Saint Theodosius, into the church in 1091. One source says he came specially from Volhynia to Kyiv so as not to miss this transfer from the cave to the Dormition cathedral. He is said to have done many good deeds.

His repose and remembrance

He fell asleep in the Lord on 27 April 1094 and was buried in the city of Vladimir. He is remembered on 27 April and in the synaxis of the saints of Galicia (on the third Sunday after Pentecost) and in the synaxis of the saints of Kyiv (15 July). The Serbian Church celebrates him on the same 27 April of the old calendar, which is 10 May.