St. Stephen the Younger – Icon Defender and Martyr of the Eastern Orthodox Church

ST. STEPHEN THE YOUNGER AND COMPANIONS (MARTYR)

St. Stephen the Younger was a Byzantine monk and iconophile who stood against the iconoclastic policies of Emperor Constantine V. Martyred in 764, he is honored as a symbol of faith and resistance in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

St. Stephen the Younger, born around 715 in Constantinople, emerged during one of the most turbulent periods in Byzantine religious history—the Iconoclast Controversy. From a young age, he was drawn to monastic life and joined the monastery on Mount Auxentios in Bithynia, a spiritual center near Constantinople. There, he immersed himself in ascetic practices and became a renowned spiritual teacher and theologian.

As the Iconoclastic movement gained imperial favor under Emperor Leo III and more aggressively under Constantine V, religious icons—particularly depictions of Christ, the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), and the saints—were being systematically destroyed, and their veneration deemed heretical. The state not only banned the use of icons but also punished those who supported their veneration. Stephen, a firm believer in the traditional practices of the Church, openly and fearlessly condemned the emperor’s policies. He argued that icons served as important visual theology and a means of lifting the soul toward God.

Stephen’s growing popularity among the faithful and his outspoken criticisms drew the ire of Emperor Constantine V. In an attempt to silence him, the emperor had Stephen arrested and imprisoned in Constantinople. During his incarceration, he was subjected to mock trials, beatings, and cruel treatment. Despite the torture, Stephen refused to renounce his beliefs or cease defending the veneration of icons.

Eventually, on November 28, 764, Stephen was dragged out by a mob, reportedly incited by imperial forces, and stoned to death. His brutal execution shocked the Christian world, and many considered it an unjust martyrdom. Those who were with him or supported him—his "companions"—were also persecuted, imprisoned, or executed, though the records of their individual names are scarce.

The Eastern Orthodox Church immediately began to venerate Stephen as a confessor and martyr. His body was buried at the site of his monastic life, Mount Auxentios. Over time, he became a key figure representing resistance against imperial interference in doctrinal matters. He was later depicted in icons himself, symbolizing the very cause for which he gave his life.

Stephen's martyrdom strengthened the iconophile movement, which ultimately triumphed at the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Second Council of Nicaea) in 787, where the veneration of icons was restored and formally recognized as orthodox Christian practice. Today, he remains a celebrated and powerful witness to the truth of the faith in the face of political and ideological oppression.

Feast Day

28-11-

Birth Date

--715 AD

Died Date

28-11-764

Canonised Date

--N/A

Mount Auxentios, Bithynia (modern-day Turkey)

St. Stephen the Younger and companions, Martyrs for Christ, Pray for us to remain strong in faith. Help us to endure suffering with courage And follow Christ’s example of love. Amen.
ST. STEPHEN THE YOUNGER AND COMPANIONS (MARTYR)

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ST. STEPHEN THE YOUNGER AND COMPANIONS (MARTYR)

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