Hierarch Stephen Of Perm

Saint Stephen of Perm, Enlightener of the Zyrians, was born around 1340 in Veliky Ustyug into the family of Simeon, a cathedral clergyman. He entered the monastery of St. Gregory the Theologian in Rostov, mastering Greek and patristic literature. Burning with the desire to bring Christianity to the pagan Komi (Zyrian) people, Stephen devised an original alphabet for their language — the Old Permic script (Anbur), based on local clan tamga-marks — and translated the core liturgical books into Komi, an extraordinary feat of missionary linguistics for its era. Around 1379 he set out for the Perm lands; despite hostility from local pagans, his gentleness and fearlessness won many converts. He felled the sacred "Prokudliva birch" venerated by the Komi, built a church of the Archangel Michael on the site, and publicly defeated the pagan shaman Pam in religious debate. In 1383 he was consecrated the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Perm. He founded schools, churches, and monasteries, defended the Komi from exploitation and famine, and was a close friend of St. Sergius of Radonezh. He died in Moscow on April 26, 1396.