January 11, 2019

Commemoration of Saint Stephen in Placidia with Saints Theodore and Agapios the Archimandrite


Verses

The three now stand before the throne of the Trinity,
They are absent from the earth and dwell in the heavens.

Most likely, this refers to the Church of Saint Stephen which was near the Placidia Palace, in the tenth district of Constantinople, and may be identified with the Church of Saint Stephen at Konstantianai. Within this church were probably relics of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, with the two other Saints mentioned (or perhaps this refers to two other chapels near Placidia). Their commemoration was kept together in this church on January 11th.