Roman Catholic Saint. The Protomartyr, or first martyr of Christianity, Stephen was, according to Acts of the Apostles, a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem.
First mentioned in Acts as one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to poorer members of the community in the early church, it is suggested that he was a Hellenist, one of those Jews who had been born in some foreign land and whose native tongue was Greek.
With his teachings arising hostilities among the members of the synagogue, he was sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, being stoned to death outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Witnessing the execution was among others, a young man named Saul, later to be known as Paul the Apostle. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," were his last words.
His relics were moved to Rome by Pope Pelagius II and are found conserved in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) alongside those of Saint Lawrence whose name the edifice carries.
His liturgical celebration is held on December 26. Western Christianity calls this day "Saint Stephen's Day." His feast day is mentioned in the first verse of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus." His memory is likewise celebrated by Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Churches, as well as by the Church of the East.
First mentioned in Acts as one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to poorer members of the community in the early church, it is suggested that he was a Hellenist, one of those Jews who had been born in some foreign land and whose native tongue was Greek.
With his teachings arising hostilities among the members of the synagogue, he was sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, being stoned to death outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Witnessing the execution was among others, a young man named Saul, later to be known as Paul the Apostle. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," were his last words.
His relics were moved to Rome by Pope Pelagius II and are found conserved in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) alongside those of Saint Lawrence whose name the edifice carries.
His liturgical celebration is held on December 26. Western Christianity calls this day "Saint Stephen's Day." His feast day is mentioned in the first verse of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus." His memory is likewise celebrated by Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Churches, as well as by the Church of the East.
Roman Catholic Saint. The Protomartyr, or first martyr of Christianity, Stephen was, according to Acts of the Apostles, a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem.
First mentioned in Acts as one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to poorer members of the community in the early church, it is suggested that he was a Hellenist, one of those Jews who had been born in some foreign land and whose native tongue was Greek.
With his teachings arising hostilities among the members of the synagogue, he was sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, being stoned to death outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Witnessing the execution was among others, a young man named Saul, later to be known as Paul the Apostle. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," were his last words.
His relics were moved to Rome by Pope Pelagius II and are found conserved in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) alongside those of Saint Lawrence whose name the edifice carries.
His liturgical celebration is held on December 26. Western Christianity calls this day "Saint Stephen's Day." His feast day is mentioned in the first verse of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus." His memory is likewise celebrated by Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Churches, as well as by the Church of the East.
First mentioned in Acts as one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to poorer members of the community in the early church, it is suggested that he was a Hellenist, one of those Jews who had been born in some foreign land and whose native tongue was Greek.
With his teachings arising hostilities among the members of the synagogue, he was sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, being stoned to death outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Witnessing the execution was among others, a young man named Saul, later to be known as Paul the Apostle. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," were his last words.
His relics were moved to Rome by Pope Pelagius II and are found conserved in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) alongside those of Saint Lawrence whose name the edifice carries.
His liturgical celebration is held on December 26. Western Christianity calls this day "Saint Stephen's Day." His feast day is mentioned in the first verse of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus." His memory is likewise celebrated by Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Churches, as well as by the Church of the East.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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