Stephen (Waldensian)

Stephen or Stephen of Austria was a 15th century Waldensian teacher from Austria, a claimed bishop and a martyr. Stephen was burned at the stake in 1468 for charges of being a Hussite.^[1]^[2]

Episcopacy

The Bohemian Brethren have claimed that Stephen as a bishop consecrated three men for the Unitas Fratrum in order to claim apostolic succession.^[3]^[2]^[4] He was said to have been ordained by a Roman bishop in 1434 but later suffered martyrdom.^[5] Though the Hussites did have good relations with Stephen, this account of him consecrating priests has been disputed.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Atwood, Craig D. (2009). The Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-03532-1.
^ ^a ^b Wallace, Paul A. (1958-11-15). The Travels of John Heckewelder in Frontier America. University of Pittsburgh Pre. ISBN 978-0-8229-7429-1.
^ Comba, Emilio; Comba, Teofilo Ernest (1889). History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation. Truslove & Shirley. ISBN 978-0-7905-4332-1.
^ Stocker, Harry Emilius (1918). Moravian customs and other matters of interest. Times publishing co., printers. p. 20. Retrieved 11 November 2012. They were extremely solicitous to secure a ministry whose validity the Roman Catholics and others would be compelled to recognise. For this reason they resolved to seek the episcopal succession. At that time a colony of Waldenses lived on the Bohemian border. The synod was satisfied that these people possessed the regular authenticated episcopal succession. Their chief was Stephen. To him the Brethren sent a deputation consisting of three priests or presbyters. These were Michael Bradacius, a priest of the Roman Catholic, and a priest of the Waldensian Church, whose names have not been preserved. They were instructed to inquire into the validity of the Waldensian episcopate. Stephen received the deputies with great kindness, assembled his assistant bishops, and entered into a minute account of the episcopacy which they had. Fully satisfied with what they lad learned the deputies requested to be consecrated bishops. This request Bishop Stephen and his assistants fulfilled in a solemn convocation of the Waldensian Church. The new bishops immediately returned to the barony of Lititz where another synod was convened and three of the brethren were set apart for the work of the ministry, by the laying on of hands. In spite of the terrible persecutions suffered by the Ancient Church, this episcopate was most wonderfully preserved.
^ Schaff, Philip (2007-11-01). The Creeds of Christendom: History of the Creeds - Volume I, Part II. Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-60206-890-2.

[:0-1] Atwood, Craig D. (2009). The Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-03532-1.

[:1-2] Wallace, Paul A. (1958-11-15). The Travels of John Heckewelder in Frontier America. University of Pittsburgh Pre. ISBN 978-0-8229-7429-1.

[3] Comba, Emilio; Comba, Teofilo Ernest (1889). History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation. Truslove & Shirley. ISBN 978-0-7905-4332-1.

[Stocker1918-4] Stocker, Harry Emilius (1918). Moravian customs and other matters of interest. Times publishing co., printers. p. 20. Retrieved 11 November 2012. They were extremely solicitous to secure a ministry whose validity the Roman Catholics and others would be compelled to recognise. For this reason they resolved to seek the episcopal succession. At that time a colony of Waldenses lived on the Bohemian border. The synod was satisfied that these people possessed the regular authenticated episcopal succession. Their chief was Stephen. To him the Brethren sent a deputation consisting of three priests or presbyters. These were Michael Bradacius, a priest of the Roman Catholic, and a priest of the Waldensian Church, whose names have not been preserved. They were instructed to inquire into the validity of the Waldensian episcopate. Stephen received the deputies with great kindness, assembled his assistant bishops, and entered into a minute account of the episcopacy which they had. Fully satisfied with what they lad learned the deputies requested to be consecrated bishops. This request Bishop Stephen and his assistants fulfilled in a solemn convocation of the Waldensian Church. The new bishops immediately returned to the barony of Lititz where another synod was convened and three of the brethren were set apart for the work of the ministry, by the laying on of hands. In spite of the terrible persecutions suffered by the Ancient Church, this episcopate was most wonderfully preserved.

[5] Schaff, Philip (2007-11-01). The Creeds of Christendom: History of the Creeds - Volume I, Part II. Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-60206-890-2.

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