December 26: Saint Stephen, Protomartyr

The first blood shed in witness to Christ

Of Stephen, known as the first martyr of the Church, we know above all the final moments of his life, recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. Information about his origins is uncertain: some believe he was of Greek culture, while others consider him a Jew with strong ties to the Hellenistic world. Among his distinctions are being one of the first Jews to convert to Christianity, his role as the foremost among the seven deacons chosen by the Apostles to assist them in caring for the community and managing its goods, and, finally, the sacrifice of his life for refusing to renounce Christ, earning him the title of “protomartyr.”

When the Christian community of Jerusalem grew, tensions arose between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking believers, particularly regarding the distribution of food to widows. In order not to distract the Apostles from preaching and prayer, seven men were chosen to take charge of this service: Stephen, described as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch. Stephen carried out this task with wisdom, zeal, and dedication to preaching, performing miracles and converting many, especially among the Jews of the diaspora.

His activity aroused the hostility of the Hellenistic Jews, who accused him of blasphemy against Moses and God. Brought before the Sanhedrin, Stephen delivered a passionate speech, recalling the history of Abraham and denouncing the Sanhedrin’s resistance to the Holy Spirit, citing the prophets persecuted by their ancestors. His steadfastness and parrhesia cost him his life: dragged outside the city, he was stoned while praying and gazing toward heaven, invoking forgiveness for his executioners. Among those who witnessed and approved of his martyrdom was Saul of Tarsus, the future Saint Paul.

Stephen is the patron saint of deacons, masons, and stonecutters, and is traditionally depicted in iconography wearing a dalmatic and holding the stones of his stoning.