Remembered on December 27
St. Stephen the First Martyr
- ApostleA saint sent to proclaim Christ, especially one of the Twelve or the Seventy, or St. Paul.
All apostles - MartyrA saint who was killed for bearing witness to Christ.
All martyrs
Stephen served the first Christian community in Jerusalem. Acts names him among the seven chosen to care for its daily needs, and describes his bold witness to Christ. The Church calls him the first martyr and remembers him as an apostle and archdeacon. His service and his final prayer belong together: love for Christ reaches toward other people, even in suffering.
How he died
He was martyred by stoning outside the city, praying that the sin would not be held against his killers.
- Feast day
- December 27
Parishes on the Old Calendar keep it on January 9. - Kind of saint
- Apostle, Martyr
Life written by Simply Orthodox; quote freely with a link.