Stephen (son of Kalomaria)

This makes him a son of Maria, the sister of Empress Theodora, the wife of Emperor Theophilos (reigned 829–842) and regent for Michael III (r.

[1][2] He is first mentioned in 886, at the beginning of the reign of Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912), when he was tasked, along with the Domestic of the Schools Andrew the Scythian, with leading the court examining Patriarch Photios and Theodore Santabarenos on accusations of treason.

[1] In 910, he was the recipient of a letter by the diplomat Leo Choirosphaktes, in which the latter pleaded with Stephen to intercede with the emperor and secure his recall from exile.

[1][5] In this capacity, he participated in the reception of the sons of the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon in the Palace of Blachernae in August 913, along with Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos and John Eladas.

[1] He remained in high standing under the regency of Empress-dowager Zoe Karbonopsina (914–919), for in 917 he was able, along with Constantine Gongyles, to intercede and save the admiral Romanos Lekapenos from being blinded for failing to adequately support the land army during the disastrous Battle of Acheloos against the Bulgarians.