Stephen was the Bishop of Clysma in Egypt during the 6th century. He attended the Second Council of Constantinople in 553; the Latin version of the acts of the council appear to be the only remaining record for Stephen's historicity.
Stephen was the young enthusiastic Bishop of Clysma when Tribonian arrived in 538.[1] He was of Arabic descent, but he was a Christian and spoke Greek, making him a Roman in everything that mattered.[2]
Tribonian sought Stephen's help to implement his plan to stop the the coming plague. He told Stephen about the plague and its symptoms, but claimed his source was from God, who'd conveyed the warning to a pious monk in Italy. Stephen believed these representations, and agreed to help Tribonian with sermons on the plague in exchange for Tribonian's informing Emperor Justinian of Stephen's efforts to establish a monastery.[3] The following Sunday, Stephen gave a fiery sermon, imploring the people of Clysma to help save the world from the "Satanic" plague. The people responded enthusiastically. Tribonian sent his letter to Justinian, updating his progress and praising Stephen.[4] Stephen soon received 100 solidi and a letter of praise from the imperial chancery praising his efforts.[5]
After the sailor Arethas, captain of the Cosmas and Damian, sank a ship carrying the plague, Stephen preached a fiery sermon thanking God for sending the warning of the plague to Clysma, thanking Arethas and the crew, and thanking Tribonian for organizing the efforts. Afterward, he pointedly thanked Tribonian, reminding the quaestor that he didn't have to come to Clysma in the first place. Tribonian appreciated the recognition.[6]
References[]
↑Lest Darkness Fall & Timeless Tales Written in Tribute (second edition), pgs. 399, loc. 5238, ebook.