Stephen the Great of Moldavia

Right-believing Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, defender of the faith and builder of monasteries.

St. Stephen the Great ruled Moldavia from 1457 and defended his Orthodox land for decades against invading armies. He built and endowed many churches and monasteries, including on Mount Athos, in thanksgiving for his victories.

He reposed in 1504 and was glorified by the Romanian Church, which honors him as a defender of Orthodoxy.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Stephen the Great of Moldavia is commemorated on July 2. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 15 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on July 2

• 

  Juvenaly of Jerusalem

  Hierarch, Ιουβενάλιος

  Patriarch of Jerusalem.

• Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos

  Saint, Κατάθεσις Τιμίας Εσθήτος Θεοτόκου

  Deposition of the precious Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church of Blachernae, Constantinople.

• John Maximovitch of San Francisco

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης Μαξίμοβιτς

  St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, wonderworker of the twentieth century.

• Lambros the New Martyr of Samothrace

  Martyr, Λάμπρος ο Νεομάρτυς

  New Martyr Lambros of Samothrace, who suffered under the Ottomans.

• Kointos the Confessor

  Saint, Κόιντος ο Ομολογητής

  Holy Confessor and Wonderworker Kointos of Phrygia.

• Photios of Moscow

  Hierarch, Φώτιος Μόσχας

  St. Photios, Metropolitan of Kiev and Moscow, a Greek from Monemvasia.