Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Stephen (VIII) IX, Pope (939-942) Date of birth unknown; he became pope about 14 July, 939, and died about the end of Oct., 942. Despite the contrary assertions of late writers, there is no doubt that Stephen was a Roman and cardinal-priest of SS. Silvester and Martin. He supported the declining Carlovingian dynasty, and by … Continue reading “Stephen (VIII) IX, Pope”

Stephen (VII) VIII, Pope (929-31) Date of birth unknown; died in February or March, 931. He became pope either at the end of 928 or at the beginning of 929. Except that he was a Roman, the son of Teudemund, and sometime cardinal-priest of St. Anastasia, and that when pope he issued certain privileges for … Continue reading “Stephen (VII) VIII, Pope”

Stephen (VI) VII, Pope (896-7) Date of birth unknown; died about August, 897. Stephen was a Roman, and the son of John, a priest. He had been consecrated Bishop of Anagni, possibly against his will, by Formosus, and became pope about May, 896. Whether induced by evil passion or perhaps, more probably, compelled by the … Continue reading “Stephen (VI) VII, Pope”

Stephen (V) VI, Pope (885-91) Date of birth unknown; died in Sept., 891. His father, Hadrian, who belonged to the Roman aristocracy, entrusted his education to his relative, Bishop Zachary, librarian of the Holy See. Stephen was created cardinal-priest of SS. Quattro Coronati by Marinus I, and his obvious holiness was the cause of his … Continue reading “Stephen (V) VI, Pope”

Stephen (IX) X, Pope Born probably about the beginning of the eleventh century; died at Florence, 29 March, 1058. (Junian?) Frederick, destined to become Pope Stephen X, was the son of Gozelon, Duke of Lower Lorraine and of Junca, the daughter of Berengarius II, King of Italy. As he advanced in years he became as … Continue reading “Stephen (IX) X, Pope”

Stephen (IV) V, Pope (816-17) Date of birth unknown; died 24 Jan., 817. Stephen, the son of Marinus, was of the same noble Roman family which gave two other popes to the Church. During his youth he had been patronized by Hadrian I and Leo III, the latter of whom had ordained him deacon. His … Continue reading “Stephen (IV) V, Pope”

Stephen (III) IV, Pope Born about 720; died 1 or 3 August, 772. Paul I was not dead when trouble began about the election of his successor. Toto of Nepi with a body of Tuscans burst into Rome, and, despite the opposition of the primicerius Christopher, forcibly intruded his brother Constantine, a layman, into the … Continue reading “Stephen (III) IV, Pope”

Stephen (II) III, Pope Unanimously elected in St. Mary Major’s and consecrated on 26 March (or 3 April), 752; d. 26 April, 757. He had at once to face the Lombards who were resolved to bring all Italy under their sway. With the capture of Ravenna (751), they had put an end to the power … Continue reading “Stephen (II) III, Pope”

STEPHEN One of the seven deacons first chosen by the church at Jerusalem, and distinguished among them as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” He seems from his name to have been a Hellenistic Jew, (see GRECIANS,) and to have been chosen in part as being familiar with the language, opinions, … Continue reading “Stephen”

Stephanus I., patriarch of Antioch Stephanus (16) I., patriarch of Antioch a.d. 478-480 (Clinton, F. R. ii. 536, 553). Stephen having sent a synodic letter to Acacius bp. of Constantinople acquainting him with the circumstances of his consecration, Acacius convened a synod, a.d. 478, by which the whole transaction was confirmed. The partisans of Peter … Continue reading “Stephanus I., patriarch of Antioch”