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Venerable Stephen Neolampes 12/22/2013
This man of God was born and raised in Constantinople, at the house of his parents Zacharias and Theophana. His father was a priest at the Great Church at the time of the Patriarch Methodius. His mother lived on nothing but bread and water when she carried Stephen in her womb. When the youth was born, a shining cross appeared on his breast. Because of this and because of his pure and devout life, he was called Neolampes (the New Light). When he was eighteen years of age, Stephen withdrew to a chapel dedicated to the holy Apostle Peter in order to devote himself to fasting, vigil and prayer. One night, Saint Peter appeared to him and said: "Peace be with you, my son. You have made a good beginning. May the Lord give you strength!” Then he lived many years at the church dedicated to the holy Martyr Antipas. Saint Antipas appeared to him and encouraged him with the words: “I will never abandon you.” Stephen gave himself with even greater zeal to spiritual warfare. All he ate was a few vegetables without salt, once or twice a week. He struggled for the Heavenly Kingdom for fifty-five years and fell asleep in the Lord in the year 829, when he was seventy-three years of age.
