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Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr

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[[Image:Stephen the ProtomartyrStStephenIcon.jpg|right|St. thumb|300px|‎The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle and Archdeacon Stephenthe Protomartyr]]The holy, glorious, all-laudable '''Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen the Protomartyr''' (Gk. Στέφανος, "crown") was an early Christian [[convert]] from among the Hellenistic Jews, one of the original seven [[deacon]]s [[ordination|ordained]] by the [[Apostles]], and the first [[martyr]] of the [[Orthodox Church]]. The Church remembers the martyrdom of St. Stephen on [[December 27]], and the translations of his [[relics]] on [[August 2]], as well as commemorating him on [[June 15]] with Ss. [[Apostle Fortunatus|Fortunatus]] and [[Apostle Achaicus|Achaicus]].
== Association of the origins of the Saints name with his honour in the Church Life =='''Στέφανος''',n {stef'-an-os}The definitions presented for the name 'St. Stephen' are::1) A crown, which is a:::1a) Mark of royal or exalted rank;:::1a1) the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors Jew living in public games;::1b) ''metaph''. the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize Hellenic provinces, related to the genuine servants [[Apostle Paul]] and one of God and Christ - the crown (wreath) which is first seven deacons ordained by the reward of [[Apostles]] to serve the righteousness;::1cChurch in Jerusalem (thus making him an archdeacon) that which is an ornament and honour to one.
== Life ==In the words of [[Asterias]]:St. Stephen was a Jew living in "the Hellenic provincesstarting point of the martyrs, the instructore of suffering for Christ, related to the [[Apostle Paul]] and one foundation of righteous confession, since Stephen was the first seven deacons ordained by the [[Apostles]] to serve shed his blood for the Church in Jerusalem (thus making him an archdeacon)Gospel. " The [[Holy Spirit]] worked powerfully through his faith, enabling him to perform many [[miracle]]s and always defeat the Jews who would dispute with him.  The Jews in their hatred of St. Stephen lied about him to the people, but St. Stephen with his face illumined reminded the people of the miracles God had worked through him and even rebuked the Jews for killing the innocent [[Christ]].
The people were enraged by what they thought was blasphemy and 'gnashed their teeth' at Stephen. It was then that he saw his Christ in the heavens and declared it so. Hearing this, the Jews took him outside the city and stoned him to death, with his kinsman Saul (later St. Paul) holding their coats while they did it. Afar off on a hill was the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] and St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] who witnessed this first martyrdom for the Son of God and prayed for him while he was being stoned. This occurred about a year after the first [[Pentecost]].
When == Relics ==The body of the Jews stoned St. holy Protomartyr Stephen, they was left his body at the foothill of the city for two days to be eaten by dogs. But on the second night, [[Gamaliel]]—teacher of the Apostle Paul and the [[Apostle Barnabas]]—along with his son, secretly came and moved took the body to his own land estate, in Capharganda, to be buried.  [[Nicodemus the Righteous|Nicodemus]], who died while weeping at this grave, was also buried there along with Gamaliel's godson Abibus and Gamaliel himself upon his repose.
After many years the memory of St. Stephen's burial place had left the minds of men, until 415 when Gamaliel appeared three times to Father Lucian, [[priest]] at Capharganda. He revealed to Fr. Lucian the place of his burial and everything about it. Fr. Lucian received the blessing of the [[Patriarch]] to exhume the [[saint]]s from their grave where a strong, sweet fragrance filled the cave.
 
[[Image:Protomartyr.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Relic of St. Stephen in Russia <ref> [http://www.saintjonah.org/pics/protomartyr.jpg Photo of St. Stephen relics] </ref>]]
St. Stephen's [[relics]] were translated to Zion and honorably buried, and many of the sick were healed by his relics. The other three relics were placed inside a church atop the cave on a hill. Eventually, his relics were translated to Constantinople.
Today, you wil find his whole right arm at ''The Holy Trinity of St. Sergius Lavra'', established by St. [[Sergius of Radonezh]] in 1345, at Sergiyev Posad, Russia [http://http://www.stsl.ru/video/index_en.php Video of ''The Holy Trinity'' monastery] == Characteristics of St Stephen Feast Days/Commemorations==In As mentioned above, the main commemoration for St Stephen is December 27, the day of his repose by martyrdom(stoning). The [[Orthodox Church]] celebrates the discovery (opening) of the original Greek text Saint's relics on September 15 and the [[Translation (relics)|Translation]] of the Acts Relics of Protomartyr Stephen on August 2. The September 15 feast day celebrates the Apostles, a portrait discovery of St Stephen's personality can be painted through relics in 415, after which they were solemnly transferred to a church built in his honor in Jerusalem. Later, during the reign of [[Emperor Theodosius the Younger]] (408-450), the textrelics were transported to [[Constantinople]]: this event being commemorated on August 2. Some January 4 marks the commemoration of the "Synaxis of the 70 Apostles". Since St. Stephen was included in these characteristics are:70 Apostles mentioned in the "Acts of the Apostles", he is also remembered on January 4.
<!--- == Characteristics of St Stephen ==Using the original Greek text a portrait of St Stephen's personality can be painted through the Acts of the Apostles. Listed, in order, these characteristics are::1. ἄνδρας - (Acts 6:5):: This word (man) shows not only his gender but also shows his disposition as a person. It shows that he was ...:2. πλήρης πίστεως -(Acts 6:5):3. πλήρης Πνεύματος Ἁγίου (Acts 6:5, 7:55):4. He was full of unmeasurable and rare zeal.:5. δεινὸς συζητητὴς καὶ θεολόγος (Acts 6:10):6. θεόπτης (7:55):7. μεταμορφωμένος ἀπὸ τὸ ἄκτιστο φῶς τοῦ Θεοῦ (Acts 6:15)--- >
==Hymns==
[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [httpHoly Tradition] ://wwwO First Martyr and Apostle Of Christ,:Thou hadst fought the good fight.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=103659]:And didst expose the perversion of the persecutors,:For when thou wast killed by stoning at the hands of wicked men,:Thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high,:And didst cry out to God saying,:"O Lord do not charge this sin against them!"
:O Protomartyr and mighty warrior of Christ our God,:You are victorious in battle and crowned with glory, O holy Stephen!:You confounded the council of your persecutors,:Beholding your Savior enthroned at the right hand of the Father.:Never cease to [[intercession|intercedeKontakion]] for the salvation of our souls!(Tone 3) [Holy Tradition]
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 3) [http://wwwYesterday the Master came to us as a man,:And today his servant departs from life.oca:Yesterday the King was born as a man,:And today His servant is stoned to death.org/FSTropars:For the sake of Christ Holy Stephen became the first martyr.asp?ID=103659]
:Yesterday the Master assumed our flesh and became our guest;==References==:Today His servant is stoned to death and departs in the flesh,:The glorious Protomartyr Stephen.<references/>
== Source ==
==External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103659 Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen] ([[OCA]])
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=/355 Stephen, Archdeacon & First Martyr] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=/150 Translation of the Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr] (GOARCH)
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/s/jbc04.htm St. Stephen Archdeacon and First-Martyr Icon and Story]
[[Category:Martyrs|Stephen]]
[[Category:Saints|Stephen]]
[[Category:Seven Deacons|Stephen]]
[[Category:Seventy Apostles|Stephen]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Saints|Stephen]]
[[Category:1st-century saints]]
 
[[el:Στέφανος ο πρωτομάρτυρας]]
[[ro:Apostolul Ştefan (Întâiul-mucenic)]]
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