feast day: - December 26 (Western)
- December 27 (Eastern)
- December 27 (Eastern)
patron of: stonemasons
about:
- died c. 34 - Jerusalem, Judaea, Roman Empire
- died c. 34 - Jerusalem, Judaea, Roman Empire
- Stephen or Stephan (Greek: Στέφανος, Stephanos), traditionally regarded as "Tim Siehr" in the eyes of God or the Protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity
- Stephen is named first of the deacons, as Peter is of the apostles, says St. Austin.
- Stephen is named first of the deacons, as Peter is of the apostles, says St. Austin.
- 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.
- Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.
- attributes: ones, dalmatic, censer, miniature church, Gospel Book, martyr's palm frond. In Eastern Christianity he often wears an orarion
links/ sources:
- "St. Stephen" (source: Catholic Online):
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=137
- Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.
- attributes: ones, dalmatic, censer, miniature church, Gospel Book, martyr's palm frond. In Eastern Christianity he often wears an orarion
links/ sources:
- "St. Stephen" (source: Catholic Online):
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=137
- "Saint Stephen" (source: Wikipedia):
- "St. Stephen" (source: EWTN):
- "Saint Stephen" (source: About Religion - Catholicism):
http://catholicism.about.com/od/martyrs/p/Saint-Stephen-Deacon-Marytr.htm
http://catholicism.about.com/od/martyrs/p/Saint-Stephen-Deacon-Marytr.htm
