St. Stephen the Great of Moldavia

Stephen ruled Moldavia for 47 years, defending it against the Ottomans, Hungarians and Poles. His victory at Vaslui in 1475 was one of the greatest defeats the Ottomans ever suffered, and the Pope called him the Athlete of Christ. He built a church or monastery after many of his battles, more than forty in all, among them the painted churches of Bukovina. He is buried at Putna Monastery, which he founded, and he was glorified in 1992.

• Feast: July 2 (New Calendar)
• Lived: c. 1433–1504
• Place: Putna