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Icon of Saint Stefan the Great used with permission of the iconographer.
© 2004 Elena Murariu. All rights reserved.
St. Stephen (also spelled Stefan) is honored as a saint throughout the Orthodox Church. Despite his earthly failings (somewhat comparable to the Psalmist and Patriarch David), he was a great defender of the True Faith against the onslaught of the Ottomans during the last half of the fifteenth century.
St. Stephen defeated Mehmet at a famous and decisive battle at Vasi Lui (not far south of Iasi in the province of Moldova in present day Romania). Had he not done so, little stood between Mehmet and the Ukraine. Mehmet met his match after shortly after having sacked Constantinople, Stefan cel mare (Stephen the Great). Although Stephen was Orthodox, the Pope called him “Christ’s Athlete.” Stephen stood almost alone in defense of Christianity and his homeland.
Perhaps of equal or greater significance to this great saint’s life is that he built many churches and monasteries -- one after each of his 47 successful battles against the Moslems, including many of the most beautiful monuments to Orthodoxy in the entire world. These monasteries still stand today and despite over 500 tumultuous years, including 50 years of Communist persecution of the Faith, they still thrive with thousands of monastics. Stephen's monasteries include the famous "painted" monasteries, referring to the fact that the outsides are frescoed and remarkably, have survived 500 years of weather - except on the north sides! These include the fabulous painted monasteries of Voronet, Moldovitsa, and Suceavitsa, as well as Putna (where Stephen reposes) and Neamst. At the west end of the south exterior wall of Voronet, interestingly enough, is a vibrantly colored fresco of the siege of Constantinople. Based undoubtedly on his zeal for the Church, he was commonly referred to as “holy” – even during his life. St. Stephen’s son founded the Probota Monastery, a magnificent monument to his own faith, and still thriving today as a monastic community for women.
St. Stephen lost 2 battles and built nothing after them, probably believing that he did not have God's blessing to do so.
St. Stephen was the spiritual child of another saint, Daniel the Hesychast. Saint Stephen never went to battle without first making confession and seeking advice from St. Daniel the Hesychast, his spiritual father.
THE ST.STEPHEN THE GREAT CHARITABLE TRUST
The charitable trust (REG. NO. 1109008) is named for Stephen, who reposed in the Lord on July 2, 1504 at an old age. By the grace of God, the Trust seeks to emulate his life in the 21st Century struggle for the True Faith of the Holy Orthodox Church. The Trust’s objects also call for the diffusion of Christian knowledge through the distribution of literature.
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