Martyrdom of Saint Stephen - St. Stephen the Protomartyr
In the Bible, the Book of Acts tells the story of how Saint
Stephen the protomartyr, was falsely accused of blasphemy
against Moses and God (Acts 6:11) and for speaking against the
Temple and the Law (Acts 6:13-14). Stephen was tried before the
Sanhedrin and he accused the Jews of continuing to persecute prophets
who spoke out against their sins.
While on trial, Stephen experienced a theophany. He looked to heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). At this, the infuriated mob charged Stephen and cast him out of the town where he was stoned to death. Stephen’s death was encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, who later converted to Christianity and became the future Saint Paul.
At the hands of his foes, Stephen cried out to the Lord to not condemn his enemies. St. Stephen remained strong in his faith despite opposition and he continued to pray for his enemies, even as they stoned him to death. For these reasons, Stephen has been canonized as the first martyr.
St. Stephen’s name is derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning “crown”. He was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr’s crown. Traditionally, St. Stephen is invested with a crown of martyrdom for Christianity and is depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs’ palm.
TIn Eastern Christian Churches, St. Stephen is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon’s vestments and holding a miniature church building and a censer.
|
