Feast of Stephen | Article about Feast of Stephen by The Free Dictionary Feast of Stephen | Article about Feast of Stephen by The Free Dictionary (redirected from Feast of Stephen) Also found in: Wikipedia . St. Stephen's Day St. Stephen lived during the time of the Apostles and the founding of the Christian Church. The Book of Acts (chapters 6 and 7) describes Stephen as a man "full of grace and power," as well as a skilled speaker. He was stoned to death around 35 gious beliefs, becoming the first Christian martyr. His feast day falls on December 26, the second of the Twelve Days of Christmas. History and Legend Three Christian festivals follow in close succession upon Christmas Day. St. Stephen's Day occurs on December 26, St. John's Day on December 27, and Holy Innocents' Day on December 28. These commemorative days were established by the late fifth century. The figures they honor share two characteristics in common. These characteristics motivated Church authorities to schedule their commemorative days close together in the Christmas season. Stephen, John, and the Innocents all lived during the time of Christ, and each was connected in a special way to his life and teachings.

In addition, all became martyrs for him. In fact, Stephen, John, and the Innocents represent all the possible combinations of the distinction between martyrs in will and martyrs in deed. The children slaughtered at King Herod's orders in Bethlehem did not choose their fate, but suffered it nonetheless, and so were considered martyrs in deed. St. John willingly risked death in defense of the Christian faith, but did not suffer death, and so was considered a martyr in will. St. Stephen risked and suffered death for his faith, thus becoming a martyr in will and deed. During the Middle Ages many legends arose about beloved saints, especially when biblical or historical accounts of their lives failed to provide sufficient details. An old English Christmas carol about St. Stephen illustrates this tendency. The carol dates back to the year 1400 and depicts the saint as a kitchen servant in King Herod's castle at the time of Jesus'birth: Stephen out of the kitchen came, with boar's head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright over Bedlem stand. He cast down the boar's head and went into the hall, I forsake thee, King Herod, and thy works all.

I forsake thee, King Herod, and thy works all. There is a child in Bedlam born is better than we all [Duncan, 1992, 63-64]. With his great hall and boar's head supper, the King Herod of this writer's imagination resembles a medieval English lord more closely than he does a king of ancient Judea. European Customs Perhaps Stephen's death at the hands of a stone-throwing mob explains how he later became the patron saint of stonecutters and bricklayers. It is somewhat more difficult to explain how he became the patron saint of horses in many European countries, since they play no role in the story of his life or death. Nevertheless, throughout central and northern Europe many old folk customs associated with St. Stephen's Day feature horses. In rural Austria people decked their horses with ribbons and brought them to the local priest to receive a blessing. Afterwards the horses fed on blessed oats in order to insure their health and well-being in the coming year. In past centuries English and Welsh folklore recommended the running, and then bleeding, of horses on St. Stephen's Day.

In those days people believed that this practice, which consisted of making a small cut in the horse's skin and letting some blood drain out, promoted good health. Horses were also bled in parts of Austria and Germany on St. Stephen's Day. Various German folk customs also advocated the riding or racing of horses on St. Stephen's Day. In Munich men on horseback entered the church during St. Stephen's Day services and rode three times around the sanctuary. Hundreds of riders and their beribboned horses participated in this custom, which was not abandoned until 1876. Other customs at one time associated with St. Stephen's Day include the wren hunt in Ireland, Wales, and England, and the blessing of fields and straw in southern France, where the day was also known as "Straw Day." In past centuries the Welsh celebrated December 26 as "Holming Day." On this day men and boys struck each other on the legs with holly branches. In some areas men thrashed women and girls about the arms with the branches. The spiny holly leaves quickly drew blood. Although some people interpreted the custom as a reminder of the bloody death of St.

Stephen, it may also have originated from the belief that periodic blood-letting ensured good health. A few final customs associated with St. Stephen's Day reflect a somewhat closer connection to the saint. In Poland people confer St. Stephen's Day blessings by throwing handfuls of rice, oats, or walnuts at one another. This act symbolizes the stoning of St. Stephen. In past centuries the English gave small gifts of money to all those who provided them with services during the year. These tips were called "boxes," thus, St. Stephen's Day became known as Boxing Day. In a small way this practice served to redistribute wealth in the community. Since St. Stephen's role in the Christian community of which he was a member was to ensure the fair distribution of goods, perhaps this custom can be said to reflect the saint's earthly vocation. Swedish Customs and Lore Old Swedish and Norwegian traditions also encouraged the racing of horses on St. Stephen's Day (see also Norway, Christmas in). In past centuries, horse races sometimes followed St. Stephen's Day church services. Folk belief suggested that the man who won the race would be the first to harvest his crops.

The Swedish historian Olaus Magnus (1490-1557) mentioned these races in his writings, and they are believed to date back to medieval times. In rural areas mounted men raced each other to the nearest north-flowing stream or ice-free spring in the early morning hours, believing that the horse that drank first would stay healthy throughout the year. The most noted Swedish St. Stephen's Day custom, however, involved bands of men on horseback called "Stephen's men" or "Stephen's riders." On St. Stephen's Day they rose before dawn and galloped from village to village singing folk songs about the saint. These robust performances awakened householders, who then refreshed Stephen's men with ale or other alcoholic beverages. Today one can still see bands of young men, often in traditional costumes, singing folk songs from door to door on St. Stephen's Day. Swedish folklore implies that the country's St. Stephen's Day customs do not honor the St. Stephen of the New Testament, but rather a medieval saint of the same name who spread Christianity in Sweden. According to legend, the medieval Stephen loved horses and owned five of them.

When one tired, he mounted another in order to spare the beasts without interrupting his tireless missionary efforts. The Stephen riders are thus thought by some scholars to represent the saint and his devoted followers. Other scholars, however, doubt the existence of the medieval St. Stephen. They propose instead that legends concerning the medieval saint arose to explain persistent pre-Christian customs associated with the day. These researchers note that horses were sacred to the cult of Frey, the Scandinavian god of sunlight, fertility, peace, and plenty (see also Yule). Other experts trace the origin of St. Stephen's Day horse riding back to the ancient Roman custom of racing horses around the time of the winter solstice. Further Reading Brewster, H. Pomeroy. Saints and Festivals of the Christian Church. 1904. Reprint. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1990. Chambers, Robert. "December 26 - St. Stephen's Day." In his The Book ofDays. Volume 2. 1862-64. Reprint. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1990. Duncan, Edmondstoune. The Story of the Carol. 1911.

Reprint. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1992. Hadfield, Miles, and John Hadfield. The Twelve Days of Christmas. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, 1961. Henderson, Helene, and Sue Ellen Thompson, eds. Holidays, Festivals, andCelebrations of the World Dictionary. Second edition. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1997. Hole, Christina. British Folk Customs. London, England: Hutchinson and Company, 1976. MacDonald, Margaret Read, ed. The Folklore of World Holidays. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research, 1992. Miles, Clement A. Christmas in Ritual and Tradition. 1912. Reprint. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1990. Murray, Alexander. "Medieval Christmas." History Today 36, 12 (December 1986): 31-39. Ross, Corinne. Christmas in Scandinavia. Chicago: World Book, 1977. Urlin, Ethel. Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days.

1915. Reprint. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1992. Weiser, Francis X. Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1952. St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) Type of Holiday: Religious (Christian) Date of Observation: December 26 Where Celebrated: Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, and other Christian nations Symbols and Customs: Christmas Box, Horse, Wren Related Holidays: Christmas ORIGINS St. Stephen became the first Christian martyr on this day, December 26, somewhere between 31 and 35 C . E . According to the New Testament book of Acts, Stephen was chosen by the Apostles as one of the first seven deacons of the church in Jerusalem. He was later denounced as a blasphemer by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council in ancient Palestine, and stoned to death outside the gate of Jerusalem that now bears his name. Stephen's death is considered an example of the highest class of martyrdom, because he intentionally gave his life for Christ. The basis of saint day remembrances-for St.

Stepehen as well as other saints-is found in ancient Roman tradition. On the anniversary of a death, families would share a ritual meal at the grave site of an ancestor. This practice was adopted by Christians who began observing a ritual meal on the death anniversary of ancestors in the faith, especially martyrs. As a result, most Christian saint days are associated with the death of the saint. There are three important exceptions. John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus are honored on their nativities (birthdays). Many who suffered martyrdom are remembered on saint days in the calendars of several Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant sects. In England, Australia, Canada, and many other countries, the day after CHRISTMAS is Boxing Day. There are a number of theories about where this holiday got its name. Some point to the church alms-box, the contents of which were not dispensed until the day after Christmas. The most popular explanation is that it was named after the earthenware CHRISTMAS BOXES that servants and tradespeople used to carry around to collect tips and end-of-the-year bonuses.

Some people believe that it comes from the Arabic backsheesh, meaning "gratuity." Crusaders brought this word back with them, and it became common for anyone who had rendered service to another person during the year to expect backsheesh at Christmas. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Christmas Box At one time, every ship that went off on a long voyage kept a box on board for donations to the priest who, in return, was expected to offer masses for the safety of the ship and its sailors. The box was not to be opened until the vessel returned. If the voyage had been rough, it was usually quite full. Because mass at that time was called Christ-mass, the boxes kept to pay for it were called "Christmass Boxes." A relic of these ancient boxes can be seen in the earthenware or wooden boxes with slits in the top used by servants and children in nineteenth-century England to gather money during the Christmas season, giving rise to the name Boxing Day. Servants, apprentices, and tradespeople, especially in London, broke their boxes open as soon as Christmas was over.

Christmas boxes were also associated with the custom of "doling," in which bands of young, poor, and often rowdy people went around demanding gifts of money and food from the wealthy and privileged. In the 1820s and 1830s, the English custom of Christmas boxes was transformed into the Victorian custom of exchanging Christmas gifts. The earthen savings box can still be found in the Netherlands, where it is commonly made in the shape of a pig, much like the American piggy bank. It is considered bad luck to break open this box, known as "The Feast Pig," before Christmas. Horse St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses. According to a Swedish legend, he had five of them. As he made his rounds preaching the word of God and one of his horses got tired, he simply mounted the next. After his death, his body was tied to St. Stephen's Day the back of an unbroken colt, which brought him back to his hometown, Norrala, to be buried. The church that was later built on the site of his grave became a place of pilgrimage to which owners brought their sick animals, particularly horses, for healing. Some scholars think that this legendary Swedish St.

Stephen is a mythical figure rather than the New Testament martyr, and that the legend surrounding him and his horses was an attempt to account for the folk customs that were already well established on this day. In England, at one time horses were bled on St. Stephen's Day in the belief that it would benefit them-a custom that is still carried out in some parts of Austria. During St. Stephen's Day services in Munich, Germany, it was customary for more than 200 men on horseback to ride three times around the interior of a church, a practice that wasn't abolished until 1876. Horse races are common on this day, and horses are often fed consecrated salt or bread as a good-luck charm. The customs associated with horses on this day appear to be non-Christian in origin. It is possible that horses were sacrificed or slaughtered on this day in pagan times, and that the horse races that often took place were a prelude to some kind of purification ceremony for houses and fields. (See also ST.

GEORGE'S DAY.) Wren In England and Ireland it was the custom on the day after Christmas to "hunt the wren." Young men and boys would dress up in leaves and branches to go out hunting, and after they had killed a bird, they fastened it to the top of a long pole and went from house to house collecting money. In some areas, a feather from the wren was exchanged for a small donation and then kept as protection against shipwreck during the coming year. After all the houses in the village had been visited, the wren was laid out on a funeral bier and carried to the churchyard, where it was buried with great solemnity. Sometimes the bird was boiled and eaten. Known as "the king of birds," the wren was probably once regarded as sacred. Hunting it at Christmastime may have been all that remained of the primitive custom of slaying the divine animal. Carrying its body from door to door was apparently intended to convey to each house a portion of the bird's virtues. Eating the bird may have originally been some sort of communion feast. FURTHER READING Bellenir, Karen. Religious Holidays and Calendars. 3rd ed.

Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2004. Brewster, H. Pomeroy. Saints and Festivals of the Christian Church. 1904. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1990. Crippen, T.G. Christmas and Christmas Lore. 1923. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1990. Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Hervey, Thomas K. The Book of Christmas. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1888. Miles, Clement A. Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan. 1912. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1990. Santino, Jack. All Around the Year: Holidays and Celebrations in American Life. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. Schmidt, Leigh Eric. Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995. Urlin, Ethel L.

Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days. 1915. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1992. WEB SITES CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Stephen Home > Catholic Encyclopedia > S > St. Stephen St. Stephen Help support New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download . Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more  all for only $19.99... One of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr ; feast on 26 December. In the Acts of the Apostles the name of St. Stephen occurs for the first time on the occasion of the appointment of the first deacons ( Acts 6:5 ). Dissatisfaction concerning the distribution of alms from the community's fund having arisen in the Church , seven men were selected and specially ordained by the Apostles to take care of the temporal relief of the poorer members. Of these seven, Stephen, is the first mentioned and the best known. Stephen's life previous to this appointment remains for us almost entirely in the dark.

His name is Greek and suggests he was a Hellenist, i.e., one of those Jews who had been born in some foreign land and whose native tongue was Greek; however, according to a fifth century tradition, the name Stephanos was only a Greek equivalent for the Aramaic Kelil (Syr. kelila, crown), which may be the protomartyr's original name and was inscribed on a slab found in his tomb . It seems that Stephen was not a proselyte , for the fact that Nicolas is the only one of the seven designated as such makes it almost certain that the others were Jews by birth. That Stephen was a pupil of Gamaliel is sometimes inferred from his able defence before the Sanhedrin ; but this has not been proved . Neither do we know when and in what circumstances he became a Christian ; it is doubtful whether the statement of St. Epiphanius (Haer., xx, 4) numbering Stephen among the seventy disciples is deserving of any credence.

His ministry as deacon appears to have been mostly among the Hellenist converts with whom the Apostles were at first less familiar; and the fact that the opposition he met with sprang up in the synagogues of the "Libertines" (probably the children of Jews taken captive to Rome by Pompey in 63 B.C. and freed hence the name Libertini), and "of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia " shows that he usually preached among the Hellenist Jews . That he was pre eminently fitted for that work, his abilities and character, which the author of the Acts dwells upon so fervently, are the best indication. The Church had, by selecting him for a deacon , publicly acknowledged him as a man "of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" ( Acts 6:3 ).

He was "a man full of faith , and of the Holy Ghost" (vi, 5), "full of grace and fortitude " (vi, 8); his uncommon oratorical powers and unimpeachable logic no one was able to resist, so much so that to his arguments replete with the Divine energy of the Scriptural authorities God added the weight of "great wonders and signs" (vi, 8). Great as was the efficacy of "the wisdom and the spirit that spoke" (vi, 10), still it could not bend the minds of the unwilling; to these the forceful preacher was fatally soon to become an enemy. The conflict broke out when the cavillers of the synagogues "of the Libertines, and of the Cyreneans , and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia", who had challenged Stephen to a dispute, came out completely discomfited (vi, 9 10); wounded pride so inflamed their hatred that they suborned false witnesses to testify that "they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God " (vi, 11).

No charge could be more apt to rouse the mob; the anger of the ancients and the scribes had been already kindled from the first reports of the preaching of the Apostles . Stephen was arrested, not without some violence it seems (the Greek word synerpasan implies so much), and dragged before the Sanhedrin , where he was accused of saying that " Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place [the temple], and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us" (vi, 12 14). No doubt Stephen had by his language given some grounds for the accusation; his accusers apparently twisted into the offensive utterance attributed to him a declaration that "the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands" (vii, 48), some mention of Jesus foretelling the destruction of the Temple and some inveighing against the burthensome traditions fencing about the Law, or rather the asseveration so often repeated by the Apostles that "there is no salvation in any other" (cf. iv, 12) the Law not excluded but Jesus .

However this may be, the accusation left him unperturbed and "all that sat in the council...saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel " (vi, 15). Stephen's answer ( Acts 7 ) was a long recital of the mercies of God towards Israel during its long history and of the ungratefulness by which, throughout, Israel repaid these mercies. This discourse contained many things unpleasant to Jewish ears; but the concluding indictment for having betrayed and murdered the Just One whose coming the Prophets had foretold, provoked the rage of an audience made up not of judges, but of foes. When Stephen "looking up steadfastly to heaven , saw the glory of God , and Jesus standing on the right hand of God ", and said: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God " (vii, 55), they ran violently upon him (vii, 56) and cast him out of the city to stone him to death.

Stephen's stoning does not appear in the narrative of the Acts as a deed of mob violence ; it must have been looked upon by those who took part in it as the carrying out of the law . According to law ( Leviticus 24:14 ), or at least its usual interpretation, Stephen had been taken out of the city; custom required that the person to be stoned be placed on an elevation from whence with his hands bound he was to be thrown down. It was most likely while these preparations were going on that, "falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (vii, 59). Meanwhile the witnesses, whose hands must be first on the person condemned by their testimony ( Deuteronomy 17:7 ), were laying down their garments at the feet of Saul, that they might be more ready for the task devolved upon them (vii, 57). The praying martyr was thrown down; and while the witnesses were thrusting upon him "a stone as much as two men could carry", he was heard to utter this supreme prayer : " Lord Jesus , receive my spirit" (vii, 58).

Little did all the people present, casting stones upon him, realize that the blood they shed was the first seed of a harvest that was to cover the world. The bodies of men stoned to death were to be buried in a place appointed by the Sanhedrin . Whether in this instance the Sanhedrin insisted on its right cannot be affirmed; at any rate, "devout men"  whether Christians or Jews , we are not told  "took order for Stephen's funeral, and made great mourning over him" (vii, 2). For centuries the location of St. Stephen's tomb was lost sight of, until (415) a certain priest named Lucian learned by revelation that the sacred body was in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem . The relics were then exhumed and carried first to the church of Mount Sion, then, in 460, to the basilica erected by Eudocia outside the Damascus Gate, on the spot where, according to tradition, the stoning had taken place (the opinion that the scene of St. Stephen's martyrdom was east of Jerusalem , near the Gate called since St.

Stephen's Gate, is unheard of until the twelfth century). The site of the Eudocian basilica was identified some twenty years ago, and a new edifice has been erected on the old foundations by the Dominican Fathers. The only first hand source of information on the life and death of St. Stephen is the Acts of the Apostles ( 6:1-8:2 ). BBC - Religions - Christianity: Saint Stephen Saint Stephen The history of Saint Stephen, an early Christian convert who became the first Christian martyr. On this page Early life and conversion Saint Stephen shown with rocks on his head and shoulders © Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian Church. He was the first Christian martyr. Stephen is believed to have been a Greek Jew who converted to Christianity. When the number of disciples increased, there was much confusion over the distribution of alms and the serving of the poor. Stephen's trustworthy character marked him out, and he was chosen as one of the seven deacons who would perform this task. An excellent and well trusted orator, his preaching style was so effective that many Jews became worried about his success. They accused him of blasphemy and he was made to stand trial.

Top Trial and death by stoning At the supreme Jewish law court, the Sanhedrin, Stephen recounted the many mercies that God had given the children of Israel, and the ungrateful way in which they had repaid Him. He accused them of murdering Jesus , whose coming, he said, had been foretold by Moses . This angered the crowd and he was dragged out onto the streets. He was then stoned to death according to the law at that time, an event witnessed by St Paul . It is believed he died around the year 34CE. He is believed to have been initially buried in a grave to the north of Jerusalem, but this body was exhumed and moved to a new grave outside the Damascus Gate. This is where the stoning is believed to have taken place. Stephen is the patron saint of deacons, headaches, horses, coffin makers, and masons. He is often represented carrying a pile of rocks or with rocks on his head. St Stephen's Day is 26th December and it is name checked in the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas. Devotional: Feast of St. Stephen Holy Trinity Parish Devotional: Feast of St. Stephen Reflection on the Feast of St.

Stephen December 26, 2014 Ps 28, 30; 2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 6:1-7 I have a special fondness for St. Stephen. He is remembered as the first deacon, though he was actually one of the “seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” who were chosen to “stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:3-6). In the next chapters, Stephen makes a full-throated defense of the Gospel, and for his troubles is rejected by the people. When they “became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen,” he gazed into heaven and said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” And then they dragged him out of the city and stoned him. My personal connection to St. Stephen does not come directly from the passage in Acts. It comes from a hymn, one that I sang over and over and over growing up in my church (surely this does not surprise some of you!).

The hymn is called “I See Jesus” and was written by a man from Lookout Mountain named Charles Wycuff. The hymn has a strong narrative line retelling the account of Stephen given in Acts, and the chorus is as catchy as any pop song I know: “I see Jesus, standing at the Father’s right hand / I see Jesus, yonder in the promised land; Work is over, Now I’m coming to thee, / I see Jesus, standing waiting for me.” The funny thing is that although I sang that hymn at least monthly for the first 15 years of my life, and could still get the chorus pretty much any moment of my life, if you had asked me to tell you something about St. Stephen, I would have drawn a complete blank. Until I was ordained a deacon eight years ago. Eight years ago, as I was preparing to be ordained a deacon, I had a lot of unresolved energy about what it all meant. Part of the energy was some remaining uncertainty about my relationship with the small Southern Baptist church where I grew up. Eight years ago, I saw the differences between Christian denominations more starkly than I do today.

But as I was preparing to be ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, I started thinking about the fact that my father, and his father before him, were ordained deacons in our church at home. And I noticed that my ordination was taking place just a few days before the feast of St. Stephen, the first deacon. I remembered that this hymn I had been singing for so long in my old church was about the same person my new church would be celebrating in a few days. Somehow, Stephen became for me a symbol that this new step on my Christian journey was actually in solidarity with the journey of my Dad and my Papa Tallant. Saints are funny things. They have their own personal story and witness. They have their own failings, too. But we come to the saints with our stories, and sometimes they help us reconnect with our own Christian journey in ways they never could have imagined. Here’s a link to a nice, simple version of the hymn: Merry Christmas! Saint Stephen - The First Deacon and the First Martyr Saint Stephen Saint Stephen The First Deacon and the First Martyr St. Stephen Walbrook church interior, City of London, Mosaic of Saint Stephen, tiled floor.

Neil Holmes/Getty Images By Scott P. Richert Updated July 05, 2016. One of the first seven deacons of the Christian Church, Saint Stephen is also the first Christian to be martyred for the Faith (hence the title, often applied to him, of protomartyr—that is, "first martyr"). The story of Saint Stephen's ordination as a deacon is found in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which also recounts the plot against Stephen and the beginning of the trial that resulted in his martyrdom; the seventh chapter of Acts recounts Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin and his martyrdom. Quick Facts Feast Day: December 26 (December 27 in the Eastern calendar) Type of Feast: Feast Readings: Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17; Matthew 10:17-22 ( full text here ) Dates: Unknown-c.

34 (Jerusalem) Birth Name: Kelil Patron of: Stonemasons, deacons, casketmakers, horses, headache sufferers, Archdiocese of Toulouse (France), Diocese of Metz (France), Diocese of Owensboro (Kentucky, USA) The Life of Saint Stephen Not much is known about Saint Stephen's origin. He is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 , when the apostles appoint seven deacons in order to minister to the physical needs of the faithful. Because Stephen is a Greek name (Stephanos), and because the appointment of the deacons occurred in response to complaints by Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, it is generally assumed that Stephen was himself a Hellenist Jew (that is, a Greek-speaking Jew). However, a tradition arising in the fifth century claims that Stephen's original name was Kelil, an Aramaic word that means "crown," and he was called Stephen because Stephanos is the Greek equivalent of his Aramaic name. In any case, Stephen's ministry was conducted among Greek-speaking Jews, some of whom were not open to the Gospel of Christ.

Stephen is described in Acts 6:5 as "full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost" and in Acts 6:8 as "full of grace and fortitude," and his talents for preaching were so great that those Hellenist Jews who disputed his teaching "were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke" ( Acts 6:10 ). The Trial of Saint Stephen Unable to combat Stephen's preaching, his opponents found men who were willing to lie about what Saint Stephen taught, to claim that "they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God" ( Acts 6:11 ). In a scene reminiscent of Christ's own appearance before the Sanhedrin (cf. Mark 14:56-58 ), Stephen's opponents produced witnesses who claimed that "we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place [the temple], and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us" ( Acts 6:14 ).

Acts 6:15 notes that the members of the Sanhedrin, "looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel." It's an interesting remark, when we consider that these are the men sitting in judgment on Stephen. When the high priest gives Stephen the chance to defend himself, he is filled with the Holy Spirit and provides ( Acts 7:2-50 ) a remarkable exposition of salvation history, from the time of Abraham through Moses and Solomon and the prophets, ending, in Acts 7:51-53 , with a rebuke of those Jews who refused to believe in Christ: You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost : as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

The members of the Sanhedrin "were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him" ( Acts 7:54 ), but Stephen, in another parallel with Christ when He was before the Sanhedrin (cf. Mark 14:62 ), boldly proclaims, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" ( Acts 7:55 ). The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen Stephen's testimony confirmed in the minds of the Sanhedrin the charge of blasphemy, "And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him" ( Acts 7:56 ). They dragged him outside of the walls of Jerusalem (near, tradition says, the Damascus Gate), and stoned him. The stoning of Stephen is notable not simply because he is the first Christian martyr, but because of the presence of a man named Saul, who "was consenting to his death" ( Acts 7:59 ), and at whose feet "the witnesses laid down their garments" ( Acts 7:57 ).

This is, of course, Saul of Tarsus, who, some time later, while traveling on the road to Damascus, encountered the Risen Christ, and became the great apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul. Paul himself, while recounting his conversion in Acts 22 , testifies that he confessed to Christ that "when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I stood by and consented, and kept the garments of them that killed him" ( Acts 22:20 ). The First Deacon Because Stephen is mentioned first among the seven men ordained as deacons in Acts 6:5-6, and is the only one singled out for his attributes ("a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost"), he is often regarded as the first deacon as well as the first martyr. Saint Stephen in Christian Art Representations of Stephen in Christian art vary somewhat between East and West; in Eastern iconography, he is usually shown in the robes of a deacon (though these would not have developed until later), and often swinging a censer (the container in which incense is burned), as deacons do during the Eastern Divine Liturgy. He is sometimes depicted holding a small church.

In Western art, Stephen is often depicted holding the stones that were the instrument of his martyrdom, as well as a palm (a symbol of martyrdom); both Western and Eastern art sometimes depict him wearing the martyr's crown. Saint Stephen's feast day is December 26 in the Western Church (the "feast of Stephen" mentioned in the popular Christmas carol " Good King Wenceslas ," and the Second Day of Christmas) and December 27 in the Eastern Church. St. Stephen - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Saints & Angels Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Facts Patron of Deacons, altar Servers, bricklayers, casket makers, & Stonemasons Death: 34 Take the Saints Trivia Quiz now! Saint Stephen was one of the first ordained deacons of the Church. He was also the first Christian martyr. The Greek word from which we derive the English word martyr literally means witness. In that sense, every Christian is called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, in both their words and their actions. Not all are asked to shed their blood. Those who do shed their blood for the faith are the greatest of witnesses. They have been especially honored since the very beginning of Christianity.

Stephen was so conformed to Jesus in his holy life that his martyrdom was both a natural and supernatural sign of his love for the Lord. It also inspired the early believers as they faced the first round of brutal persecution. His behavior, even forgiving those who were taking his life while he was being stoned to death, was a beautiful reflection of how conformed he truly was to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is recorded in Chapter 7 of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7:54-60), which immediately follows the Gospels in the New Testament. The 6th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles contains an account of the choice of the first seven deacons of the Church. As the Apostles worked to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ as his elders, some of the Greek-speaking widows were being neglected in their practical needs. The Twelve decided to ordain seven deacons to oversee their care. In doing so, the deacons extended the pastoral care of the Apostles, the first Bishops of the early Church, enabling them to attend more to teaching. Of the seven ordained, Stephen was the oldest and given the title of "archdeacon," the chief among them.

Little is known about him before this account. Like most of the early Christian leaders, he was Jewish, but may have come came from among the Greek speaking or Hellenistic believers, the ones feeling slighted in the distribution of alms. Great preaching and miracles were attributed to Stephen. The Bible records that Stephen "full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen s popularity created enemies among some Jews, members of the Synagogue of Roman Freedmen. They debated with him, to generate evidence against him in furtherance of their persecution of the early Church. They accused him of blasphemy, of speaking against God and Moses. The charges inflamed the local populace which demanded he be tried and punished. When Stephen was put on trial, several false witnesses were brought forward by the Sanhedrin to testify that he was guilty of blasphemy. He was charged with predicting that Jesus would destroy the Temple and for preaching against Mosaic law. Stephen was filled with wisdom from heaven. He responded by detailing the history of Israel and outlining the blessings God had bestowed upon his chosen people. He also explained how disobedient Israel had become, despite the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

Stephen explained that Jesus had come to fulfil the law of Moses, not destroy it. He quoted extensively from the Hebrew scriptures to prove his case. Finally, he admonished the Sanhedrin, saying, "You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Upright One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. In spite of being given the Law through angels, you have not kept it." (Acts 7:51-53) As Stephen concluded his defense, he looked up and saw a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, "Look, I can see heaven thrown open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." That vision was taken as the final proof of blasphemy to the Jews who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah or Son of God. For them, Jesus could not possibly be beside the Father in Heaven. The crowd rushed upon Stephen and carried him outside of the city to stone him to death.

As Stephen was being brutally stoned, he spoke his last words, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Words which echoed the very words of Jesus on the Cross. Following those words, Stephen died, in the Lord. Watching the trial and execution was a Rabbi named Saul of Tarsus, a virulent persecutor of the early Church. Shortly thereafter, that Rabbi would himself encounter the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and be dramatically converted. His encounter is recorded in the 9th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. He took the name Paul as a sign of his new life in Jesus Christ and went on to become the great apostle to the Gentiles. Stephen was buried by Christians, but the location of his tomb is not specified in the New Testament and may have been forgotten for a time. In 415 a Christian priest claimed he had a vision of the tomb and located Stephen s remains. A name inside the tomb confirmed the find. St. Stephen is often depicted with stones, a Gospel Book, a miniature church and a martyr's palm frond.

He is the patron saint of Altar Servers, bricklayers, casket makers and deacons and his feast day is celebrated on December 26. Join with us in offering this prayer, written by Deacon Keith Fournier, seeking his intercession: "Lord Jesus, Receive my Spirit" (St. Stephen, Martyr) A Prayer by Deacon Keith Fournier Lord Jesus, you chose Stephen as the first deacon and martyr of your One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The heroic witness of his holy life and death reveals your continued presence among us. Through following the example of his living faith, and by his intercession, empower us by your Holy Spirit to live as witnesses to the faith in this New Missionary Age. No matter what our state in life, career or vocation, help us to proclaim, in both word and in deed, the fullness of the Gospel to a world which is waiting to be born anew in Jesus Christ. Pour out upon your whole Church, the same Holy Spirit which animated St Stephen, Martyr, to be faithful to the end, which is a beginning of life eternal in the communion of the Trinity.

Question: In Christian chronology when is the 'Feast of Stephen'?
Answer: 26 December