Saint Stephen: the Protomartyr
St. Stephen, the Archdeacon was the first martyr (protomartyr) of the Church. Stephanos, in Greek, means "Crown," and he is the first one to wear the crown of martyrdom. His death is commemorated on the First of Toba.
From the Coptic Synexarium: St. Luke testified about him in the Acts
of the Apostles saying, "Stephen, full of faith and power, did great
wonders and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8) The Jews envied him and
seized him and brought him to the Council. They also set up false
witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words
against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this
Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which
Moses delivered to us." (Acts 6:12-13) And all who sat in the Council,
looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. (Acts
6:13)
Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" St. Stephen answered
with convincing words and told them the history from Abraham to Moses.
The coming out of Abraham from Haran, the birth and the circumcision of
Isaac, Jacob and his sons and their selling of Joseph, and how Joseph
revealed himself to his brothers. St. Stephen continued to narrate to
them all the events until the building of the temple. He concluded by
saying, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You
always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of
the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who
foretold the coming of the Just One, of Whom you now have become the
betrayers and murderers; who have received the law by the direction of
angels and have not kept it." (Acts 7:51-53)
When they heard these things they were cut to their hearts, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son
of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran
toward him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned
him.
They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus
receive my Spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,
"Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he said this, he fell
asleep. (Acts 7:51-60) Devout men carried St. Stephen to his burial and
made great lamentation over him.
His prayers be with us. Amen.
