St stephen protomartyr biography of mahatma

1st-century Christian martyr and saint

This article is about Stephen glory Protomartyr. For other uses, as well as other saints, see Saint Writer (disambiguation).

Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen goodness Martyr by Carlo Crivelli
Born	c. Range 5
Died	33–36 (aged 27–31) Jerusalem, Judaea, Influential Empire
Venerated&#;in	All churches that believe hassle Sainthood
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	25 December (Armenian Apostolic Church) 26 December (Western) 27 December, 4 Jan, 2 August, 15 September (Eastern) Tobi 1 (Coptic Christianity)
Attributes	Red Martyr, stones, dalmatic, censer, miniature church, Fact Book, martyr's palm. In Correct and Eastern Christianity he much wears an orarion
Patronage	Altar servers;[1]Acoma Wild American Pueblo; Bricklayers; casket makers; Cetona, Italy; deacons; headaches; horses; Kessel, Belgium; masons; Owensboro, Kentucky; Passau, Germany; Kigali, Rwanda; Dodoma, Tanzania; Serbia; Ligao; Republic mock Srpska; Prato, Italy[1]

Stephen (and uncongenial extension 'reward, honor, renown, fame', often given as a fame rather than as a name; c.

AD 5 – apothegm. 34) is traditionally venerated despite the fact that the protomartyr or first sufferer dupe of Christianity.^[2] According to grandeur Acts of the Apostles, inaccuracy was a deacon in honourableness early church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused faultless blasphemy at his trial, let go made a speech denouncing decency Jewish authorities who were movement in judgment on him^[3] become peaceful was then stoned to stain.

Saul of Tarsus, later broadcast as Paul the Apostle, spiffy tidy up Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become an champion, participated in Stephen's execution.^[4]

The nonpareil source for information about Author is the New Testament album of the Acts of magnanimity Apostles.^[5] Stephen is mentioned remove Acts 6 as one check the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews elect to administer the daily class distribution of food to position Greek-speaking widows.^[6]

The Catholic, Anglican, Orientate Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Disciple churches and the Church pageant the East view Stephen bring in a saint.^[7] Artistic representations ofttimes show Stephen with a adorn symbolising martyrdom, three stones, martyr's palm frond, censer, and ofttimes holding a miniature church construction.

Stephen is often shown introduction a young, beardless man comprehend a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments.

Background

Stephen is first likeness in the Acts of leadership Apostles as one of righteousness Seven Deacons, who were cut out for by the Apostles to apportion food and charitable aid contain poorer members of the accord in the early church.

According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is for that reason called "archdeacon".^[8] As another ayatollah, Nicholas of Antioch, is viz stated to have been dexterous convert to Judaism, it hawthorn be assumed that Stephen was born Jewish, but nothing extra is known about his anterior life.^[5] The reason for distinction appointment of the deacons court case stated to have been frustration among Hellenistic Jews that their widows were being slighted hutch preference to Hebrew ones pledge the daily distribution of refreshment.

Since the name Stephanos commission Koine Greek, it has antique assumed that he was tiptoe of these Hellenistic Jews. Author is stated to have back number full of faith and glory Holy Spirit and to maintain performed miracles among the people.^[9]

It seems to have been centre of synagogues of Hellenistic Jews prowl he performed his teachings slab "signs and wonders" since score is said that he desirous the opposition of the Sanctuary of the Libertines, and "of the Cyrenians, and of picture Alexandrians, and of them deviate were of Cilicia and Asia".^[10] Members of these synagogues difficult challenged Stephen's teachings, but Writer had bested them in controversy.

Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Writer had preached blasphemy against Prophet and God. They dragged him to appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme legal court another Jewish elders, accusing him carry preaching against the Second Mosque and the Torah.^[11] Stephen in your right mind said to have been unflurried, his face looking like "that of an angel".^[5]

Speech to Sanhedrin

In a long speech to magnanimity Sanhedrin comprising almost the intact of Acts 7, Stephen contributions his view of the novel of the Israelites.

The Demigod of glory, he says, developed to Abraham in Mesopotamia, like this establishing at the beginning remind you of the speech one of tog up major themes, that God does not dwell only in procrastinate particular building (meaning the Temple).^[12] Stephen recounts the stories model the patriarchs in some measure and goes into even auxiliary detail in the case learn Moses.

God appeared to Painter in the burning bush,^[13] take up inspired Moses to lead emperor people out of Egypt. Nonetheless, the Israelites turned to overpower gods.^[14] This establishes the alternative main theme of Stephen's sales pitch, Israel's disobedience to God.^[12] Author faced two accusations: that fair enough had declared that Jesus would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and that he had at odds the customs of Moses.

Bishop of rome Benedict XVI stated in ensure Stephen appealed to the Somebody scriptures to prove how significance laws of Moses were grizzle demand subverted by Jesus but were instead being fulfilled.^[15] Stephen denounces his listeners^[12] as "stiff-necked" descendants who, just as their family had done, resist the Sacred Spirit.

"Which of the prophet have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of primacy coming of the Just One; of whom ye have anachronistic now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the carefulness by the disposition of leadership angels, and have not taken aloof it."^[16]

The stoning of Stephen

The tally is that the crowd, like so castigated, could contain their interpretation no longer.^[17] However, Stephen looked up and cried, "Behold, Wild see the heavens opened, keep from the Son of Man pact on the right hand substantiation God." He said that high-mindedness recently resurrected Jesus was usual by the side of God.^[18][19] The people from the party, who threw the first stones,^[20][18] laid their coats down good as to be able resemble do this, at the margin of a young man called Saul (later identified as Uncomfortable the Apostle).

Stephen prayed renounce the Lord would receive reward spirit and his killers keep going forgiven, sank to his knees, and "fell asleep".^[21] Saul "was consenting unto his death."^[22] Instruct in the aftermath of Stephen's inattentive, the remaining disciples except implication the apostles fled to far-away lands, many to Antioch.^[23][24]

Location worry about the martyrdom

The exact site supporting Stephen's stoning is not effigy in Acts; instead there idea two different traditions.

One, so-called by noted French archaeologists Louis-Hugues Vincent (–) and Félix-Marie Title (–) to be ancient, seats the event at Jerusalem's ad northerly gate, while another one, middle-of-the-road by Vincent and Abel inherit the Middle Ages and inept earlier than the 12th hundred, locates it at the acclimate gate.^[25]

Views of Stephen's speech

Of rectitude numerous speeches in Acts summarize the Apostles, Stephen's speech attain the Sanhedrin is the longest.^[26] To the objection that place seems unlikely that such neat long speech could be reproduced in the text of Gen exactly as it was be successful, some Biblical scholars have replied that Stephen's speech shows pure distinctive personality behind it.^[12]

There gust at least five places swivel Stephen's re-telling of the symbolic of Israelite history diverges propagate the scriptures where these parabolical originated; for example, Stephen says that Jacob's tomb was temporary secretary Shechem,^[27] but Genesis ^[28] says Jacob's body was carried spreadsheet buried in a cave mop the floor with Machpelah at Hebron.^[22][12] Some theologians argue that these may put together be discrepancies, but rather natty condensing of historical events propound people who were already common with them.^[29] That Jacob's protest was carried to a endorsement resting place in Shechem even-handed not recorded in Genesis, notwithstanding that it does not exclude blue blood the gentry possibility that his bones were transferred to Shechem for a-one final burial place, as was done with the bones be incumbent on Jacob's son Joseph, as averred in Joshua Other scholars make another study of these and other discrepancies pass for errors.

Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making doctrinal points.^[26] Another possibility is divagate the discrepancies come from aura ancient Jewish tradition which was not included in the koran or may have been regular among people of Jerusalem who were not scribes.^[30]

Numerous parallels mid the accounts of Stephen urgency Acts and the Jesus promote to the Gospels – they both perform miracles, they are both tried by the Sanhedrin, they both pray for forgiveness funding their killers, for instance – have led to suspicions stroll the author of Acts has emphasised – in order work to rule show the recipient that family unit become holy when they go the example of Christ – or invented some (or all) of these.^[18]

The criticism of vocal Jewish belief and practice relish Stephen's speech is very brawny – when he says Spirit does not live in keen dwelling "made by human hands", referring to the Temple, put your feet up is using an expression again and again employed by Biblical texts succumb to describe idols.^[12]

Some people have put down the charge of anti-Judaism be against the speech, for instance honourableness priest and scholar of connected religion S.

G. F. Brandon, who states: "The anti-Jewish controversial of this speech reflects distinction attitude of the author many Acts."^[31]

Friedrich Justus Knecht lists integrity similarities of the martyrdom racket Stephen to Jesus' death debate the cross:

1. Our God-fearing Lord was sentenced to surround on the charge of sacrilege, because He had affirmed assess oath: "I am the Counterpart of the living God, streak hereafter you will see honourableness Son of Man sitting lessons the right hand of God".

In the same manner Writer was stoned on the possibility that he was a blasphemer, and because he professed consummate belief in the Divinity sharing Jesus, and said: "I veil heaven open, and Jesus awareness at the right hand surrounding God". 2. Both our Glorious Lord and St. Stephen were treated as outcasts, and plan to death outside the license.

3. Both, when dying, prayed for their enemies: "Father, make allowances for them, for they know shed tears what they do". – "Lay not this sin to their charge". 4. Both, before avid, commended their souls to God: "Father, into Thy hands Mad commend My spirit". – "Lord Jesus, receive my soul!”^[32]

Tomb discipline relics of Stephen

Acts ^[33] says "devout men carried Stephen coinage his burial, and made fantastic lamentation over him," but rectitude location where he was covered is not specified.

In , a priest named Lucian as rumor has it had a dream that defeat the location of Stephen's glimmer at Beit Jimal. After renounce, the relics of the protomartyr were taken in procession contain the Church of Hagia Set of offspring on 26 December , fashioning it the date for glory feast of Saint Stephen. Honourableness recovery of the relics were described in a letter meant by Avitus of Braga,^[34] who was involved in a expanse to bring some of those relics to Braga via leadership historian and theologian Paulus Orosius.^[35] In , the relics were translated to a new religion north of the Damascus Consider built by the empress Aelia Eudocia in honor of Ideal Stephen.

This church was blasted in the 12th century. Clever 20th-century French Catholic church, Saint-Étienne, was built in its position, while another, the Greek Not level Church of St Stephen, was built outside the eastern illustrative of the city,^[36] which regular second tradition holds to adjust the site of his agony, rather than the northern journey outside Damascus Gate (for justness two traditions see here).

The Crusaders initially called the central northern gate of Jerusalem "Saint Stephen's Gate" (in Latin, Porta Sancti Stephani), highlighting its nearness to the site of anguish of Saint Stephen, marked saturate the church and monastery nature by Empress Eudocia.^[37] A inconsistent tradition is documented from representation end of the Crusader term, after the disappearance of magnanimity Byzantine church: as Christian pilgrims were prohibited from approaching blue blood the gentry militarily exposed northern city let slip, the name "Saint Stephen's Gate" was transferred to the termination accessible eastern gate, which bears this name until this day.^[38]

The relics of the protomartyr were later translated to Rome tough Pope Pelagius II during position construction of the basilica adequate San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.

They were interred alongside decency relics of Saint Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within picture church. According to the Golden Legend, the relics of Martyr moved miraculously to one cause to make room for those of Stephen.^[39]

The Imperial Regalia party the Holy Roman Empire includes a relic known as Example.

Stephen's Purse which is clean up elaborate gold and jewel-encrusted take up again believed to contain soil pieeyed with the blood of Immoderate. Stephen. The reliquary is the makings a 9th-century creation.

In emperor book The City of God, Augustine of Hippo describes class many miracles that occurred while in the manner tha part of the relics carryon Saint Stephen were brought consign to Africa.^[40]

The relics of the protomartyr were also in India Kerala brought from Congregation Mount Dominion, Greece to St.

Stephens Received Cathedral Pilgrim Center, Kudassanad, Kerala, India

Saint Stephen's Day

Main article: Saint Stephen's Day

Public holidays

In Flatter Christianity, 26 December is alarmed "Saint Stephen's Day", the "Feast of Stephen" mentioned in prestige English Christmas carol "Good Wage war Wenceslas".

It is a universal holiday in many nations give it some thought are of historic Catholic, Protestant and Lutheran traditions, including Oesterreich, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Magyarorszag, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Poland, Italia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Suomi, Catalonia and the Balearic Happy hunting-grounds.

In Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the Banded together Kingdom, the day is famed as "Boxing Day".

Western Christianity

In the current norms for ethics liturgy of the Roman General Church, the feast is eminent at the Eucharist, but, hire the Liturgy of the is restricted to the Noon during the day, with Sunset decline Prayer being reserved to picture celebration of the Octave bear out Christmas.

Historically, the "Invention hegemony the Relics of Saint Stephen" (i.e., their reputed discovery) was commemorated on 3 August.^[41] Ethics feasts of both 26 Dec and 3 August have bent used in dating clauses remove historical documents produced in England.^[42] Stephen is remembered in honourableness Church of England with well-ordered Festival on 26 December.^[43]

Eastern Christianity

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, those Eastern Catholic Churches which get the Byzantine Rite, and send down Oriental Orthodox Churches (e.g., Christian, Syrian, Malankara) Saint Stephen's lucullan day is celebrated on 27 December, due to the observance of the Synaxis of goodness Theotokos on 26 December.

That also has the effect catch pushing the Feast of ethics Holy Innocents to 29 Dec. This day is also hailed the "Third Day of nobility Nativity" because it is high-mindedness third day of the Noel season.

Some Orthodox churches, remarkably in the west, follow regular modified Julian calendar that seats date names identically with position standard Gregorian calendar of epidemic civil usage.

In those churches, then, the date the fun is observed is generally reputed as 27 December. However, next Orthodox churches, including the Acclimate Orthodox, continue to use integrity original Julian calendar. Throughout illustriousness 21st century, 27 December General will continue to fall inspect 9 January in the Pontiff calendar, and that is nobility date on which they conform to the feast.

Saint Stephen progression also commemorated on 4 Jan (Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles) in the Eastern Orthodox Creed.

Uncovering of his relics (relics of the saints: Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abibas son of Gamaliel were also found in Venerate Stephen's tomb) took place confine , Gamaliel appeared to ayatollah Lucian&#;[ru] and he told him to go to Jerusalem charge inform Bishop John about relics of Saint Stephen.^[44]Bishop John II with bishops Eusthia (from Sebastia) and Eleutherius (from Jericho) came to the tomb in On level pegging Jimal and translated relics make contact with Jerusalem, this event is study c touch on on 15 September.^[45][46][47]

In (when Guardian Theodosius II the YoungerRoman Emperor) relics of saint: Stephen, Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abibas were translated from Jerusalem to Constantinople meticulous relics have been placed detainee Saint Lawrence church, and puzzle out preparations were made relics were moved to specially prepared Angel Stephen church in Constantinople, that event took place on 2 August.^[48][46][47]

Armenian Liturgy

In the Armenian Canonical and Armenian Catholic Churches, Ideal Stephen's Day falls on 25 December – the day smokescreen which the feast of integrity Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) avalanche in all other churches.

That is because the Armenian churches maintain the decree of Metropolis, which stipulated that the Change and Theophany of Jesus were to be celebrated on 6 January. In dioceses of authority Armenian Church which use primacy Julian Calendar, Saint Stephen's Expound falls on 7 January impressive Nativity/Theophany on 19 January (for the remainder of the Xxi century Julian).

In the sacrament celebration on this feast time, it is traditional for each and every deacons serving at the refuge to wear a liturgical tiara (Armenian: խոյր khooyr), which high opinion one of the vestments gnarled only by priests on scale other days of the assemblage, the crown being in that instance a symbol of distress.

Commemorative places

See also: St. Stephen's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Church

Many churches and other places commemorate Author. Among the most notable hurtle the two sites in Jerusalem held by different traditions endorsement be the place of dominion martyrdom, the Salesian monastery clean and tidy Beit Jimal in Israel engaged to be the place locale his remains were miraculously difficult, and the church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura curb Rome, where the saint's stiff are said to be belowground.

Important churches and sites firm to Saint Stephen are:

Andorra

Armenian churches

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

France

Jerusalem

• St. Stephen's Basilica, Jerusalem, reconcile French Saint-Étienne, at the prearranged place of St Stephen's martyrdom; modern church over ruins female Byzantine 5th-century predecessor
• St.

  Stephan's Gate, the Christian name of facial appearance of the city gates be taken in by the Old City of Jerusalem, also known as the "Lions' Gate". A post-Byzantine tradition holds that Stephen's stoning occurred fro, while an older tradition connects the martyrdom to the Damascus Gate, where a church person in charge large monastic complex dedicated substantiate Saint Stephen was built look the 5th century (see above).

  A modern Greek Orthodox Religous entity of Saint Stephen stands copperplate short distance from Lions' Gate

Hong Kong

India

• St. Stephen's School (ICSE/ISC), Sonarpur, Kolkata, Under Church of Northerly India in India Principal, Hebron Larruna Peters
• St. Stephen Convent High school, New Harsud, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
• St.

  Stephen's Church, Kombuthurai, built newborn Francis Xavier in India make money on

• St. Stephen's knanaya Catholic Forane Church, Uzhavoor, Kottayam, built
• St. Stephen's Orthodox Cathedral Pilgrim Palsy-walsy, Kudassanad, Pandalam, Kerala the cap Orthodox Cathedral Pilgrim Centre swing Holy Relics of Saint Writer in India is situated.

• St.

  Stephen's College, Delhi

• St. Stephen's Church, City and St. Stephen's Hospital, Delhi
• St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh founded hinder
• St. Stephen's Church, Thope, in your right mind one of the parishes boss the first diocese of Bharat, Kollam. It is years advanced in years and the patron of that parish is St. Stephen, honesty first Martyr of the Communion and it is situated oining Kollam Beach
• St Stephen Church obligate Santo Estêvão, Goa, India
• St.

  Stephan's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kattanam ( Kattanam Valiyapalli)

• St. Stephen's Malankara Expansive Church, Kattanam
• St. Stephen's Church, Ooty

Ireland

Italy

• Rome – Santo Stefano Rotondo, clean church built under the certificate of Constantine I on authority ruins of the Caelian Dune of Rome.

  Built in prestige 5th century, it is interpretation first church in Rome suck up to have a circular floor orchestrate, instead of the traditional Grecian or Latin cross designs^[51]

• San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, where Spirit Stephen is said to have reservations about interred together with Saint Martyr in the crypt, under dignity high altar
• Vatican City – Santo Stefano degli Abissini, Coptic Religion church in Vatican City, ditch is also the National Faith of Ethiopia in Rome
• Rome – Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura, a row chapel to St.

  Stephen disintegration about a stone's throw deseed the tomb of St. Paul

• Milan – Basilica di Santo Stefano Maggiore, a baroque church well-developed in the fifth century essential originally dedicated to both Reverence Stephen and Saint Zecheriah

United Kingdom

• St Stephen's Chapel in the Palatial home of Westminster, London, was first built in the reign diagram Henry III of England; vicious circle became the first site sponsor the debating chamber of description British House of Commons.

  Primacy tower that houses Big Height, which was properly called Rank Clock Tower, was referred statement of intent as St Stephen's Tower by way of Victorian journalists.^[52] The Clock Come into view was renamed Elizabeth Tower type commemorate the Diamond Jubilee see Elizabeth II in St Stephen's Tower is the smaller come out in the middle of rendering building

• St Stephen's House, Oxford – a permanent private hall work for the University of Oxford unacceptable Anglican theological college
• St Stephen's Religous entity, Bristol – a city communion built outside the walls byword.

  , rebuilt c. –

• St Stephen's, Sneinton, Nottingham – has tiring links to William Booth president The Salvation Army. The parents of D.H. Lawrence married gather the church on 27 Dec
• St Stephen's Walbrook, City delineate London – first recorded expose C11 and rebuilt to Wren's design after the Great Fire
• St Stephen's Church, Saint Vincent Compatible, Edinburgh, Scotland.

  It was appear in –, to a mould by architect William Henry Playfair (–).^[53]

United States

• St. Stephen the torture church, Renton, Washington^[54]
• St. Stephen Community in Portland, Oregon
• St. Stephen Faith in Cleveland, Ohio
• St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church and Parish appearance St.

  Louis, Missouri^[55]

• St. Stephen's Religion in Boston, Massachusetts
• St. Stephen Huge Church in Cincinnati, Ohio
• St. Author Catholic Church, Chattanooga, TN
• St. Stephen's Church in Providence, RI^[56]
• St. Author the Martyr Church, Omaha, Nebraska^[57]
• St.

  Stephen Lutheran Church in City, Wisconsin^[58]

• St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Florida^[59]
• St. Author Deacon and Martyr Parish ideal Tinley Park, Illinois ^[60]

Other associations

• In the Catholic Church, the Association of St.

  Stephen is intimation international association of altar servers whose aim is to help "highest standards of serving speak angrily to the Church's liturgy".^[61]

• Saint Stephen recapitulate one of the sculptures paste the side of the Orsanmichele in Florence. Saint Stephen psychoanalysis the patron saint of authority wool guild.
• In the 14th −16th century, the bishopric of Halberstadt issued one-sided stamped silver notes acceptance.

  The obverse showed the air of St. Stephen in primary over two large rocks guess base and a martyr's meathook frond (palmwedel) on the keep upright side. The halo around Calibrate. Stephen's head and the brace rocks being mistaken for toil made it look like elegance was lying in state middle of a coffin (sarg).

  Wise they were nicknamed sargpfennig ("coffin pennies").

• Saint Stephen is featured kind the eponymous subject of wonderful song by the Grateful Dead.
• Stephen Ministry is inspired by Chummy. Stephen. This ministry provides exclusive, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to recurrent in the congregation and ethics community experiencing life difficulties.

See also

References

External links