Saint Stephen

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"St. Stephen" redirects here. For other uses, see St. Stephen (disambiguation).

Saint Stephen is known as the Protomartyr, or first martyr, of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day was kept on August 3, commemorating the finding (Latin: inventio) of his body during the reign of Emperor Honorius.

1 Christian deacon
2 Martyrdom
3 St. Stephen's Day
4 Cult of Saint Stephen
5 Commemorative shrines
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Christian deacon

According to the Acts of the Apostles, during the early timeframe of the Christian church in Jerusalem (following the death of Jesus), Stephen was one of seven men, probably Hellenistic Jews, chosen to attend to the distribution of aid to elderly widows within the church community. (This role came to be known as deacon.) Stephen was also recognized for his gifts as an evangelist, preaching the teachings of Jesus to the people of Jerusalem, including members of the Hellenistic synagogues.

[edit] Martyrdom

Acts tells the story of how Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy against Moses and God (Acts 6:11) and speaking against the Temple and the Law (Acts 6:13-14), see also Antinomianism, and was then stoned to death (c.34-35 AD) by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future Saint Paul: "And Saul entirely approved of putting him to death" (8:1). [1].

Stephen's final speech is presented as making an accusation against the Jews of killing their prophets and of being Christ-killers:

'"Which one of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute, and they killed the ones who prophesied the coming of the Just One, of whom now, too, you have become betrayers and murderers." (7:52)

Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the Greek Stephanos, meaning "crown", which translated into Aramaic as Kelil. Saint Stephen is traditionally invested with a crown of martyrdom for Christianity and is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' palm. In Eastern Christian iconography he is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing deacon's vestments, and often holding a miniature church building and censer.

ii.6]).

[edit] St. Stephen's Day

Main article: St. Stephen's Day

December 26, the "feast of Stephen" referred to in the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, is called "St. Stephen's Day"; it is a public holiday in Ireland, Italy and Finland, the holiday is celebrated on December 27 in Romania. In Catalonia (though not elsewhere in Spain) it is called "Sant Esteve" and is a bank holiday. It is called "Saint Étienne" in France and bank holiday in Alsace and Moselle only.

[edit] Cult of Saint Stephen

Many churches are named in honor of Saint Stephen but there was no official "Tomb of St Stephen" for centuries until 415, when Christian pilgrims were traveling in large numbers to Jerusalem and a certain priest named Lucian said he had learned by hallucination that tomb was in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. Gregory of Tours reports that the intercession of Stephen preserved an oratory dedicated to him at Metz, in which his relics were preserved, when the Huns burned the entire city, leaving only the oratory standing, Easter eve, 451. (Historia Francorum ii.6). and is celebrated amoung the Altar servering community

[edit] Commemorative shrines

In Eastern Jerusalem , Israel - St. Steven's Church.
In the old city of Jerusalem - the "Lions gate" is called also St. Stephanus gate
In the village of Kafarbe, southeast of Turkey - Mor Stephanus Church
Saint Stephens Basilica in Budapest, Hungary

[edit] References

"Stephen, Saint". Encyclopedia Britannica (15th edition) Volume 11: 250-251. (1974).

Latourette, Kenneth Scott (1975). “The Sweep of Christianity Across the Græco-Roman World”, A History of Christianity, 1st paperback edition, New York: Harper & Row, 67-68. ISBN 0-06-06452-6.