S. Stephen's

Our Patron Saint

Saint Stephen,

who died in 35 AD, was the first deacon and the first Christian martyr. Most probably a Hellenistic Jew, he was one of ‘the seven’ who were appointed by the Apostles to ‘serve tables’ in Jerusalem (Acts 6. 5). He also preached and performed miracles (Acts 6. 8), thus incurring the hostility of the Jews, who accused him to the Sanhedrin. There he delivered the great discourse reproduced in Acts 7. 2-53, setting out by a recapitulation of Israel’s history that God does not depend on the Temple and that Christ was the prophet announced by Moses. Incensed at his denunciations, his accusers, apparently without formal trial, had him stoned. Saul, the future Saint Paul, was a witness to his martyrdom. His death, in fact, made a great impression on Saul, especially when Stephen died confessing Christ and asking forgiveness for his persecutors. His tomb was not known until its discovery by the priest Lucian in 415. His feast has been celebrated on 26 December from the end of the 4th century.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘Look!’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they gave a great shout, and stopped their ears; they made a concerted rush at him, threw him out of the city, and set about stoning him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him Stephen called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ He fell on his knees and cried aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them,’ and with that he died. Saul was among those who approved of his execution.

Acts 7: 55-60