Saint Stephen Greek Orthodox Icon
Saint Stephen was a Jew, by race, and, as some say, a disciple of Gamaliel, the
teacher of the Law. He was the first of the seven deacons whom the Apostles
established in Jerusalem to Care for the poor, and to distribute alms to them.
Being a man hill of faith and of the Holy Spirit, he performed great signs and
wonders among the people. While disputing with the Jews concerning Jesus, and
wisely refuting their every contradiction, so that no one was able to withstand
the wisdom and the spirit whereby he spake, he was slandered as a blasphemer
and was dragged off to the Sanhedrin of the elders. There with boldness be
proved from the divine Scriptures the coming of the Just One (Jesus), of Whom
they had become the betrayers and murderers, and he reproved their faithless
and hardheartedness. And finally, gazing into Heaven and beholding the divine
glory, he said: "Lo, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing
at the right hand of God." But when they heard this, they stopped up their
ears, and with anger cast him out of the city and stoned him, while he was
calling out and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then,
imitating the long-suffering of the Master, he bent his knees and prayed in a
loud voice for them that were stoning him, and he said, "Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge," And saying this, he fell asleep, thus becoming
the first among the Martyrs of the Church of Christ.