Stephen the Athonite

Stephen the Athonite, a hierodeacon, born at Kranidi in Hermionida, early put on the monastic habit at the monastery of the Holy Unmercenaries at Hermioni. Later, for a more perfect life, he came to Mount Athos, where he was ordained deacon. After a time he returned to his monastery with still greater divine zeal. His compatriots, in the guerrilla war, arrested him because he did not follow them and slowly cut his throat with a knife. With steadfastness, faith and courage, the young deacon walked the same road as his namesake, the archdeacon and first martyr Stephen.

He did not cease his fervent prayer until the last moment. His executioner suffered a violent nervous shock and swore to give up this ugly work, but someone else replaced him, dipping his fingers in the blood of the former executioner. The hierodeacon Stephen Poulis had managed to win by his life at least one soul. Certainly his reward in heaven will be great. He is counted among those who fell asleep in 1944. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.