Stephen of Perm
Stephen of Perm (c. 1340 – 26 April 1396) was a Russian Orthodox bishop, painter and missionary. He is known as being one of the most successful missionaries of the Russian Orthodox Church. Stephen is credited with the conversion of the Komi peoples to Christianity. He settled in Ust-Vym and became the first bishop of Perm in 1383.
Stephen also created the Old Permic script, which makes him the founding father of Permian written tradition. "The Enlightener of Perm" or the "Apostle of the Permians", as he is sometimes called, is commemorated by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches on 26 April. Epiphanius the Wise wrote about his life in The Life of Stephen of Perm.
In the Martyrology
- April 26 Saint Stephen, bishop of Perm