Stephen Hayes was born in Durban, South Africa, and educated at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, the University of Durham in England, and the University of South Africa. He lives with his wife and two sons in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, while his daughter is an ikonographer in Athens, Greece. He is retired, but serves as a deacon in the Orthodox Church and spends his time reading and writing.