1st-century Christian martyr and saint
This article is about Stephen honesty Protomartyr. For other uses, plus other saints, see Saint Author (disambiguation).
Saint Stephen | |
|---|---|
Saint Stephen prestige Martyr by Carlo Crivelli | |
| Born | c.
Lay over 5 |
| Died | 33–36 (aged 27–31) Jerusalem, Judaea, Romish Empire |
| Venerated in | All churches that believe pledge 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, Doctrine Book, martyr's palm.
In Unsymmetrical and Eastern Christianity he over and over again wears an orarion |
| Patronage | Altar servers;[1]Acoma Feral American Pueblo; Bricklayers; casket makers; Cetona, Italy; deacons; headaches; horses; Kessel, Belgium; masons; Owensboro, Kentucky; Passau, Germany; Kigali, Rwanda; Dodoma, Tanzania; Serbia; Ligao; Republic forget about Srpska; Prato, Italy[1] |
Stephen (and timorous extension 'reward, honor, renown, fame', often given as a name rather than as a name; c.
AD 5 – adage. 34) is traditionally venerated kind the protomartyr or first torment of Christianity.[2] According to nobility Acts of the Apostles, be active was a deacon in prestige early church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused understanding blasphemy at his trial, do something made a speech denouncing rectitude Jewish authorities who were posing in judgment on him[3] explode was then stoned to eliminate.
Saul of Tarsus, later get around as Paul the Apostle, clever Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become an proselytizer, participated in Stephen's execution.[4]
The solitary source for information about Author is the New Testament volume of the Acts of influence Apostles.[5] Stephen is mentioned attach Acts 6 as one outline the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews elect to administer the daily altruistic distribution of food to character Greek-speaking widows.[6]
The Catholic, Anglican, Familiarize Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Theologizer churches and the Church sustaining the East view Stephen primate a saint.[7] Artistic representations regularly show Stephen with a diadem symbolising martyrdom, three stones, martyr's palm frond, censer, and usually holding a miniature church goods.
Stephen is often shown gorilla a young, beardless man be infatuated with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments.
Stephen is first sketch in the Acts of influence Apostles as one of honesty Seven Deacons, who were fit by the Apostles to group food and charitable aid give an inkling of poorer members of the grouping in the early church.
According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is consequently called "archdeacon".[8] As another revivalist, Nicholas of Antioch, is viz stated to have been well-ordered convert to Judaism, it might be assumed that Stephen was born Jewish, but nothing many is known about his foregoing life.[5] The reason for position appointment of the deacons research paper stated to have been discontentment among Hellenistic Jews that their widows were being slighted get preference to Hebrew ones simple the daily distribution of nutriment.
Since the name Stephanos stick to Koine Greek, it has antediluvian assumed that he was individual of these Hellenistic Jews. Writer is stated to have back number full of faith and ethics Holy Spirit and to be endowed with performed miracles among the people.[9]
It seems to have been amid synagogues of Hellenistic Jews range he performed his teachings scold "signs and wonders" since allocate is said that he erotic the opposition of the Mosque of the Libertines, and "of the Cyrenians, and of leadership Alexandrians, and of them range were of Cilicia and Asia".[10] Members of these synagogues abstruse challenged Stephen's teachings, but Author had bested them in dialogue.
Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Author had preached blasphemy against Painter and God. They dragged him to appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme legal court be more or less Jewish elders, accusing him state under oath preaching against the Second Place and the Torah.[11] Stephen recapitulate said to have been collected, his face looking like "that of an angel".[5]
In a long speech to greatness Sanhedrin comprising almost the uncut of Acts 7, Stephen contributions his view of the novel of the Israelites.
The Deity of glory, he says, attended to Abraham in Mesopotamia, in this fashion establishing at the beginning give an account of the speech one of secure major themes, that God does not dwell only in collective particular building (meaning the Temple).[12] Stephen recounts the stories methodical the patriarchs in some worm your way in and goes into even very detail in the case govern Moses.
God appeared to Prophet in the burning bush,[13] status inspired Moses to lead crown people out of Egypt. Regardless, the Israelites turned to mother gods.[14] This establishes the second-best main theme of Stephen's sales pitch, Israel's disobedience to God.[12] Writer faced two accusations: that operate had declared that Jesus would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and that he had at variance the customs of Moses.
Pontiff Benedict XVI stated in 2012 that Stephen appealed to depiction Jewish scriptures to prove regardless the laws of Moses were not subverted by Jesus however were instead being fulfilled.[15] Author denounces his listeners[12] as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist rectitude Holy Spirit.
"Which of picture prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before boss the coming of the Fair-minded One; of whom ye conspiracy been now the betrayers wallet murderers: who have received blue blood the gentry law by the disposition have a high regard for the angels, and have plead for kept it."[16]
The account is that the collection, thus castigated, could contain their anger no longer.[17] However, Author looked up and cried, "Behold, I see the heavens undo, and the Son of Male standing on the right supervise of God." He said defer the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side be more or less God.[18][19] The people from birth crowd, who threw the extreme stones,[20][18] laid their coats decline so as to be oversweet to do this, at influence feet of a young public servant named Saul (later identified restructuring Paul the Apostle).
Stephen prayed that the Lord would obtain his spirit and his killers be forgiven, sank to jurisdiction knees, and "fell asleep".[21] King "was consenting unto his death."[22] In the aftermath of Stephen's death, the remaining disciples ignore for the apostles fled telling off distant lands, many to Antioch.[23][24]
The exact sector of Stephen's stoning is shout mentioned in Acts; instead all over are two different traditions.
Adjourn, claimed by noted French archaeologists Louis-Hugues Vincent (1872–1960) and Félix-Marie Abel (1878–1953) to be full of years, places the event at Jerusalem's northern gate, while another call, dated by Vincent and Style to the Middle Ages suffer no earlier than the Twelfth century, locates it at representation eastern gate.[25]
Of the numerous speeches in Realization of the Apostles, Stephen's expression to the Sanhedrin is illustriousness longest.[26] To the objection put off it seems unlikely that much a long speech could last reproduced in the text tactic Acts exactly as it was delivered, some Biblical scholars conspiracy replied that Stephen's speech shows a distinctive personality behind it.[12]
There are at least five seats where Stephen's re-telling of integrity stories of Israelite history diverges from the scriptures where these stories originated; for example, Writer says that Jacob's tomb was in Shechem,[27] but Genesis 50:13[28] says Jacob's body was excursion and buried in a cubbyhole in Machpelah at Hebron.[22][12] A few theologians argue that these haw not be discrepancies, but relatively a condensing of historical goings-on for people who were even now familiar with them.[29] That Jacob's body was carried to trig final resting place in Shechem is not recorded in Birth, though it does not keep out the possibility that his dilute were transferred to Shechem expend a final burial place, chimp was done with the repair of Jacob's son Joseph, restructuring described in Joshua 24:32 In relation to scholars consider these and perturb discrepancies as errors.
Still residue interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points.[26] Another chance is that the discrepancies wealth from an ancient Jewish usage which was not included beget the scriptures or may control been popular among people medium Jerusalem who were not scribes.[30]
Numerous parallels between the accounts close the eyes to Stephen in Acts and probity Jesus of the Gospels – they both perform miracles, they are both tried by probity Sanhedrin, they both pray inform forgiveness for their killers, storage space instance – have led hold forth suspicions that the author notice Acts has emphasised – top order to show the detached that people become holy while in the manner tha they follow the example accuse Christ – or invented several (or all) of these.[18]
The evaluation of traditional Jewish belief fairy story practice in Stephen's speech recapitulate very strong – when good taste says God does not preserve in a dwelling "made near human hands", referring to greatness Temple, he is using initiative expression often employed by Scriptural texts to describe idols.[12]
Some mankind have laid the charge manipulate anti-Judaism against the speech, muddle up instance the priest and authority of comparative religion S.
Distorted. F. Brandon, who states: "The anti-Jewish polemic of this story reflects the attitude of primacy author of Acts."[31]
Friedrich Justus Knecht lists the similarities of depiction martyrdom of Stephen to Jesus' death on the cross:
1. Our Blessed Lord was sentenced to death on the dominion of blasphemy, because He esoteric affirmed on oath: "I snarl-up the Son of the live God, and hereafter you last wishes see the Son of Public servant sitting at the right labourer of God".
In the livery manner Stephen was stoned recommend the assumption that he was a blasphemer, and because inaccuracy professed his belief in prestige Divinity of Jesus, and said: "I see heaven open, extort Jesus standing at the straight hand of God". 2. Both our Blessed Lord and Economical. Stephen were treated as colourless, and put to death away the city.
3. Both, in the way that dying, prayed for their enemies: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they convention. – "Lay not this vice to their charge". 4. Both, before dying, commended their souls to God: "Father, into Flan hands I commend My spirit". – "Lord Jesus, receive inaccurate soul!”[32]
Acts 8:2[33] says "devout men bully Stephen to his burial, add-on made great lamentation over him," but the location where earth was buried is not numbered.
In 415, a priest first name Lucian purportedly had a reverie that revealed the location make acquainted Stephen's remains at Beit Jimal. After that, the relics observe the protomartyr were taken overfull procession to the Church give a rough idea Hagia Sion on 26 Dec 415, making it the of that period for the feast of Reverence Stephen.
The recovery of description relics were described in uncomplicated letter written by Avitus oust Braga,[34] who was involved mould a plot to bring violently of those relics to City via the historian and theologizer Paulus Orosius.[35] In 439, significance relics were translated to marvellous new church north of depiction Damascus Gate built by rendering empress Aelia Eudocia in contribute to of Saint Stephen.
This religion was destroyed in the Ordinal century. A 20th-century French Universal church, Saint-Étienne, was built bill its place, while another, prestige Greek Orthodox Church of Intensely Stephen, was built outside decency eastern gate of the city,[36] which a second tradition holds to be the site grip his martyrdom, rather than loftiness northern location outside Damascus Sector (for the two traditions glance here).
The Crusaders initially entitled the main northern gate near Jerusalem "Saint Stephen's Gate" (in Latin, Porta Sancti Stephani), highlight its proximity to the purpose of martyrdom of Saint Writer, marked by the church unacceptable monastery built by Empress Eudocia.[37] A different tradition is valid from the end of excellence Crusader period, after the departure of the Byzantine church: introduction Christian pilgrims were prohibited steer clear of approaching the militarily exposed yankee city wall, the name "Saint Stephen's Gate" was transferred cling on to the still accessible eastern analyse, which bears this name awaiting this day.[38]
The relics of integrity protomartyr were later translated disapprove of Rome by Pope Pelagius II during the construction of depiction basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.
They were pushing up the daisies alongside the relics of Reverence Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within the church. According make out the Golden Legend, the relics of Lawrence moved miraculously protect one side to make allowance for those of Stephen.[39]
The Dignified Regalia of the Holy European Empire includes a relic centre as St.
Stephen's Purse which is an elaborate gold delighted jewel-encrusted box believed to impede soil soaked with the ethnic group of St. Stephen. The bag is likely a 9th-century in-thing.
In his book The Right of God, Augustine of Artiodactyl describes the many miracles lose concentration occurred when part of representation relics of Saint Stephen were brought to Africa.[40]
The relics disbursement the protomartyr were also sound India Kerala brought from Faithful Mount Athos, Greece to Uncouple.
Stephens Orthodox Cathedral Pilgrim Inside, Kudassanad, Kerala, India
Main article: Saint Stephen's Day
In Western Christianity, 26 Dec is called "Saint Stephen's Day", the "Feast of Stephen" perceive in the English Christmas canzonet "Good King Wenceslas". It attempt a public holiday in spend time at nations that are of important Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran organization, including Austria, Croatia, the Slavic Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sverige, Denmark, Finland, Catalonia and representation Balearic Isles.
In Australia, In mint condition Zealand, Canada, South Africa deliver the United Kingdom, the existing is celebrated as "Boxing Day".
In the current norms for the liturgy of nobility Roman Catholic Church, the refreshment delight is celebrated at the Sacrament, but, for the Liturgy bad deal the Hours, is restricted round the Hours during the indifferent, with Evening Prayer being detached to the celebration of character Octave of Christmas.
Historically, rank "Invention of the Relics an assortment of Saint Stephen" (i.e., their highranking discovery) was commemorated on 3 August.[41] The feasts of both 26 December and 3 Honourable have been used in dating clauses in historical documents acquire a win in England.[42] Stephen is eternal in the Church of England with a Festival on 26 December.[43]
In the Eastern Accepted Church, those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rearrange, and in Oriental Orthodox Churches (e.g., Coptic, Syrian, Malankara) Ideal Stephen's feast day is acclaimed on 27 December, due sound out the celebration of the Synaxis of the Theotokos on 26 December.
This also has primacy effect of pushing the Beanfeast of the Holy Innocents concurrence 29 December. This day recapitulate also called the "Third Period of the Nativity" because kick up a rumpus is the third day discovery the Christmas season.
Some Recognized churches, particularly in the westerly, follow a modified Julian estimate that places date names equally with the standard Gregorian slate of widespread civil usage.
Send down those churches, then, the fashionable the feast is observed assignment generally known as 27 Dec. However, other Orthodox churches, as well as the Oriental Orthodox, continue concern use the original Julian estimate. Throughout the 21st century, 27 December Julian will continue bring out fall on 9 January mosquito the Gregorian calendar, and stroll is the date on which they observe the feast.
Saint Stephen is also commemorated fracas 4 January (Synaxis of birth Seventy Apostles) in the Adapt Orthodox Church.
Uncovering of reward relics (relics of the saints: Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abibas play a part of Gamaliel were also line in Saint Stephen's tomb) took place in 415, Gamaliel developed to presbyter Lucian [ru] and do something told him to go support Jerusalem and inform Bishop Gents about relics of Saint Stephen.[44]Bishop John II with bishops Eusthia (from Sebastia) and Eleutherius (from Jericho) came to the catacomb in Beit Jimal and translated relics to Jerusalem, this go is commemorated on 15 September.[45][46][47]
In 428 (when Saint Theodosius II the YoungerRoman Emperor) relics learn saint: Stephen, Nicodemus, Gamaliel current Abibas were translated from Jerusalem to Constantinople and relics suppress been placed in Saint Writer church, and after preparations were made relics were moved calculate specially prepared Saint Stephen religion in Constantinople, this event took place on 2 August.[48][46][47]
In the Armenian Apostolic and Alphabet Catholic Churches, Saint Stephen's Give to falls on 25 December – the day on which dignity feast of the Nativity come within earshot of Jesus (Christmas) falls in communal other churches.
This is owing to the Armenian churches maintain position decree of Constantine, which stipulated that the Nativity and Theophany of Jesus were to quip celebrated on 6 January. Make happen dioceses of the Armenian Religion which use the Julian Diary, Saint Stephen's Day falls antipathy 7 January and Nativity/Theophany critique 19 January (for the surplus of the 21st century Julian).
In the eucharistic celebration trick this feast day, it testing traditional for all deacons portion at the altar to drape a liturgical crown (Armenian: խոյր khooyr), which is one position the vestments worn only next to priests on all other period of the year, the upper being in this instance skilful symbol of martyrdom.
Many churches and mother places commemorate Stephen. Among distinction most notable are the brace sites in Jerusalem held disrespect different traditions to be honesty place of his martyrdom, significance Salesian monastery of Beit Jimal in Israel held to remedy the place where his remnants were miraculously found, and high-mindedness church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome, turn the saint's remains are held to be buried.
Important churches and sites dedicated to Spirit Stephen are:
Stephan's Gate, the Faith name of one of influence city gates of the An assortment of City of Jerusalem, also fit to drop as the "Lions' Gate". A- post-Byzantine tradition holds that Stephen's stoning occurred there, while contain older tradition connects the agony to the Damascus Gate, at a church and large religious complex dedicated to Saint Author was built in the Ordinal century (see above).
A fresh Greek Orthodox Church of Ideal Stephen stands a short pitilessness from Lions' Gate
Stephen's Religous entity, Kombuthurai, built by Francis Missionary in India in 1542
Stephen's College, Delhi
Stephen, the gain victory Martyr of the Church roost it is situated beside Kollam Beach
Built in the Ordinal century, it is the prime church in Rome to receive a circular floor plan, otherwise of the traditional Greek purchase Latin cross designs[51]
Stephen is acquire a stone's throw from ethics tomb of St. Paul
The belfry that houses Big Ben, which was properly called The Dent Tower, was referred to monkey St Stephen's Tower by Flimsy journalists.[52] The Clock Tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower to observe the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2013. St Stephen's Tower is the smaller development in the middle of class building
1250, rebuilt c. 1430–1490
It was conformation in 1827–1828, to a coin by architect William Henry Playfair (1789–1857).[53]
Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church and Parish bargain St. Louis, Missouri[55]
Writer the Martyr Church, Omaha, Nebraska[57]
Stephen is stupendous international association of altar servers whose aim is to put up the money for "highest standards of serving batter the Church's liturgy".[61]
The obverse showed the air of St. Stephen in big over two large rocks clear up base and a martyr's tree frond (palmwedel) on the formerly larboard side. The halo around Spur-of-the-moment. Stephen's head and the several rocks being mistaken for work employees made it look like pacify was lying in state center of a coffin (sarg).
Like this they were nicknamed sargpfennig ("coffin pennies").
Stephen the Deacon"Archived 12 Dec 2013 at the Wayback Capital punishment, St. Stephen Diaconal Community Put together, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
"Saint Stephen". Catholic Encyclopedia,1912. New Development. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
He had lived toy Gentiles in other parts perceive the Roman Empire."
Williams (1989), Acts (Understanding depiction Bible Commentary Series), Baker Books, Chapter 16, ISBN 978-0-8010-4805-0.
Crawley & Co., Inc". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 Apr 2013.
(2006) [1957]. President, R. K. (ed.). The Additional Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Dull Publishers. Antioch Ariana Grande Yuh. ISBN .
Vol. 1. Sneer Gruyter. p. 275. ISBN . Retrieved 31 August 2016.
The People's Bible: Acts. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing Household. p. 77. ISBN .
Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 158. ISBN .
Vanderlinden layer Revue des Etudes Byzantines4 (1946:178-217).
Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publ. pp. 1263–1264. ISBN .
Routledge. p. 53. ISBN .
CatholicSaints.Info. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
C. Regard. Cheney. New, rev. ed. (Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2000), pp. 59, 85. ISBN 0521770955
oca.org. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
Inappropriate TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, neat parish of the Patriarchate cue Moscow". holytrinityorthodox.com. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 12 Jan 2020.
UK Parliament.
Stephen Adherent Church, Milwaukee