My beloved brothers and sisters in Divine Incarnate Logos/Word, Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
On the 27th of December, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Holy Apostle STEFANOS (STEPHEN), PROTOMARTYR
(FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR) 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 has 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 Stefanos, 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 Martyrs, Stefanos the truly divine.
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Saint Stefanos (Stephen) the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon was a kinsman of the Holy Apostle Paul and one of those Jews who lived in a Hellenic milieu. Stefanos WAS THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DEACONS WHOM THE HOLY APOSTLES ORDAINED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE POOR IN JERUSALEM. This is why he is called the Archdeacon — the first, or chief, of them. By the power of his faith, Stefanos worked many miracles (Wonders) among the people. The wicked Jews, disputed with him, but were always confounded by his wisdom and the power of the Spirit who acted through him. Then the shameful Jews, adept at calumny and slander, stirred up the people and leaders against this innocent man. They slandered Stefanos, saying that he had blasphemed against God and against Moses, and quickly found false witnesses who supported their assertion. Then Stefanos stood before the people, and ALL SAW HIS FACE "LIKE THE FACE OF AN ANGEL" : THAT IS, HIS FACE WAS ILLUMINED BY THE LIGHT OF GRACE AS WAS THE FACE OF MOSES WHEN HE TALKED WITH GOD. Stefanos opened his mouth and spoke of God’s manifold works and marvels, performed in the past for the Peopleof Israel, and of the people’s manifold transgressions and opposition to God. He especially denounced them for the slaying of Christ the Lord, calling them "BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS" [Acts 7:52]. While they grounded their teeth, Stefanos looked and saw THE HEAVENS OPEN AND THE GLORY OF GOD, AND SPOKE TO THE JEWS OF WHAT HE SAW. "BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED, AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD" [7:56]. Then the malicious men took him out of the city and STONED HIM TO DEATH. Among his murderers was his kinsman Saul, later the Apostle Paul. At that time, the Most Holy Mother of God was standing on a rock at a distance with Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian, and witnessed the martyrdom of THE FIRST MARTYR FOR THE TRUTH OF HER SON AND GOD, AND SHE PRAYED FOR STEFANOS. This happened exactly a year after the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles. Saint Stefano’s body was taken secretly and buried by Gamaliel in his own ground. He was a Jewish Prince and SECRET CHRISTIAN. T hus this first of Christ’s Martyrs made a glorious end and entered into the Kingdom of Christ our God. [Resource: The Prologue from Ochrid]
(To be continued)
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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 Birth,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 