Stephen II of Constantinople was an Eastern Orthodox priest who served as the Ecumenical Patriarch from 925 until his death in 928. Born around 850 in the Amasya Province of the Byzantine Empire, he was appointed to the high office by Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos. Historical accounts suggest his appointment served as a temporary measure, intended to hold the position until the emperor's son, Theophylact, reached an appropriate age to take over the leadership of the church.
Ecclesiastical career
Following the passing of Nicholas I, the emperor selected Stephen to fill the vacancy. Some historians, such as Steven Runciman, have characterized his tenure as that of a placeholder rather than a significant leader. He held this influential religious post for approximately three years before his death in July 928.
Veneration
He is recognized as a saint within the Eastern Orthodox tradition. His memory is honored through liturgical commemoration, with his feast day observed annually on July 18.