My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
On the 27th of December, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy Apostle STEFANOS (STEPHEN), Protomartyr and Archdeacon.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Martyr. Fourth Tone
The crown of the Kingdom hath adorned the brow of thy head
because of the contests that thou hast endured for Christ God, thou
first of the martyred Saints; for when thou hadst censured the Jews’
madness, thou sawest Christ thy Savior standing at the right hand of
the Father. O Stephen, ever pray Him for us, that He would save our
souls.
Kontakion Hymn of the Martyr. Third Tone
Yesterday the Master came, to be with us in the body; and today
His faithful slave departeth out of the body; yesterday the King was
born in the flesh for our sakes; and today the servant suffereth death
by stoning; and for His sake is perfected the first of the Martyrs,
Stephen the truly divine.
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Saint Stefanos (Stephen), the Blessed First Martyr and Archdeacon, was a Hebrew and disciple of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law. He was first among the Seven Deacons established in Jerusalem by the holy Apostles. We read in the Book of Acts of the holy Apostles that the Jerusalem community was close-knit after the day of Pentecost. Many had anticipated the return of Christ within their lifetimes. We note that the Christians in Jerusalem shared all their material goods [Acts 2:44-45]. Although the Christians still went to the Temple to pray [Acts 2:46], yet they began partaking of the Lord’s Mystical Supper (Holy Communion) in their own homes [Acts 2:42-46). God worked miracles of healing through these early Christians. Sick people would gather at the Temple, so that the holy Apostles might touch them on their way to prayer [Acts 5:12-16]. The Church grew very rapidly so that the holy Apostles had to appoint SEVEN MEN to distribute goods to the needy widow [Acts 6:1-3].
Saint Stefano’s (Stephen’s) name, meaning "crown" in Greek, could indicate that he was a Hellenist or Greek speaking Jew. The significance of the Hellenists is seen first in their numbers and the need for seven men to be in charge of the distribution of relief. Historical records indicate the presence of thousands of Christians in Jerusalem whose native language was Greek [Acts 6:1, 3, 7]. The Hellenists had a crucial part in the early transition of the Gentiles into the Church. When converted to Christianity, they readily adapted the message to a Greek context and, and of course, had access to the Septuagint (the Translation of the Old Testament by Seventy Hebrew Scholars).
Now Stefanos (Stephen), full of faith and the Holy Spirit, did great wonders (miracles) among the people (Acts 6:5, 8). According to Acts 6:13, he was accused by his critics of speaking against the Temple and the law of Moses. These charges were brought forth by Hellenistic Jews, who considered their ancesta=ral faith the one thing worthy living for; therefore, they were bitterly opposed to anything that might undermine their traditional faith.
But Saint Stefanos (Stephen) had discovered the inadequacy of a mere formalism and ceremonialism in the Temple worship. Christ’s own words, to the Samaritan woman, had indicated to him and the early Church that true worship of God is not confined to the Temple [John 4:20-24; Mark 13:2]. Jesus had supported moderation in Jewish traditions and magnanimity in Sabbath observances [Mark 2:15f; Luke 15:1f]. Jesus had granted consideration to Gentiles [Matthew 8:5-13}. Many of our Savior's followers were the common people who heard Him gladly [Mark 12:37); and it is clear that hte observance of legal minutiae was not an absorbing concern with many of these people. Therefore, Saint Stefanos, with his broad background among those of the dispersion, maintained these important aspects of Jesus' messages and conduct and opened the way for future advance into Gentile EVANGELISM.
Saint Stefanos did not hesitate to preach his views in the Hellenistic synagogues. [The word 'synagogue' comes from the Greek word συναγωγή meaning assembly or gathering.] Naturally, other arose and disputed with him, but they could not gainsay nor resist the wisdom and power of his words. Saint Luke tells us in Acts that "there rose up some of those from the synagogue which is called that of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stefanos. And they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the spirit by which he was speaking" [Acts 6:9-10]. They secretly induced some men to falsely accuse Stefanos. They stirred up the people, including the elders of the Scribes.
They deliberately misrepresented Stafano’s views and aroused Jewish suspicion and, before pre-arranged false witnesses, charged him with blasphemy [Acts 6:12-14]. The accusations were twofold: He spoke against Moses, making Stefanos a blasphemer against God, and he was a radical, speaking revolutionary statements against the Temple and the Law. Indeed, the accusations against him were remarkably similar to those leveled against Christ [Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:58; 13:2; 15:29]. Therefore, the Archdeacon was accused of implied approval of the destruction of the Temple and the change of the Law. To them, Christianity threatened to overthrow their religion and Jewish nationalism.
All those sitting in the Sanhedrin, having looked upon Saint Stefanos, "saw his face as though it were the face of an Angel." His face shone forth with Divine grace, even as had the countenance of Moses. The holy Stefanos was then permitted to answer their accusations in the council. Then Saint Stefanos (Stephen), "being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed intently into the heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the Right hand of God; and he said, ‘BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS HAVING BEEN OPENED AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT OF GOD.’ And they cried out with a loud voice, and they held their ears together, and rushed upon him with one accord. And they cast him outside of the city and began stoning him" [Acts 7:55-58].
When the Protomartyr was led to the place of execution, the Mother of God followed at a distance. When they reached the Valley of Jehoshaphat, by the brook of Kedron, she stood at a distance on a nearby hill with Saint John the Theologian. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, named Saul. He not only consented to Saint Stefano’s death [Acts 7:58], but also failed to show any pity for one of his own blood who was being put to death. Saul, who claimed to be a Hebraic Jew, trained in the most worthy traditions of his fathers, whose qualifications among the Pharisees could hardly be surpassed, was, perhaps, in his misguided zeal that lacked true knowledge, basing his actions against Saint Stefanos on Deuteronomy 13:6-10.
Witnessing his Martyric end, the Most Holy Theotokos fervently prayed to the Lord that He strengthen His martyr and receive Saint Stefano’s soul into His hands. While the innocent Saint Stefanoswas sustaining the rain of blows from the stones, he knelt down and, with a loud voice, he cried, "LORD, DO NOT MAKE THIS SIN STAND AGAINST THEM." After he uttered these words in imitation of His Master Christ, he fell asleep" [Acts 7:58-60].
And great lamentation was made over the young Saint Stefanos, whose face shone like an Angel’s. Moreover, his death was a kind of double loss for he was held by all as one most gracious and amiable. The effects of Saint Stefano’s death were enormous. The Protomartyr’s holy relics were left by the Jews for the dogs to eat. However, God’s Providence disposed otherwise when, at night and two days later, as the Martyr’s body lie in an open place, the Jewish sage and teacher of Saul, Gamaliel [Acts 5:34], who was a secret follower of Christ, came and took up Saint Stephen’s holy relics and went to Caphargamala. Gamaliel buried the precious holy relics on his own land in a cave.
In 415 A.D., the holy relics were discovered by the Priest Lucian, after having received a vision. The Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the finding of his holy relics on the 15th of September. The First-Martyr’s holy relics were then translated to Jerusalem, where they were laid in a church, built in his honor by Athenais-Evdokia, Augusta [423 A.D.] and wife of Theodosius II. Later the holy relics were taken to Constantinople, whose translation is commemorated by the Holy Church on the 2nd of August. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 