Stephen the Hymnographer was an 8th-century Byzantine monk and poet who resided at the Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas in Palestine. Born in Damascus, he was the nephew of Saint John of Damascus, who introduced him to monasticism at the age of ten. Seeking a more secluded existence, he eventually lived as a hermit under the guidance of his abbot. His life was marked by the ascetic traditions of the Lavra and the historical upheavals caused by Saracen incursions in the region.