Saint Stephen - Revision history

Lazarus at 14:43, December 27, 2005

2005-12-27T14:43:47Z

Irlandos at 12:00, December 26, 2005

2005-12-26T12:00:49Z

Irlandos at 11:48, December 26, 2005

2005-12-26T11:48:02Z

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'''Saint Stephen''' is the '''''Protomartyr''''' or first martyr of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite, the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the Church of England among other religious denominations. He is identified as one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in ''Acts of the Apostles''. The Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated [[December 27]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Church]]. A [[simple octave]] is kept by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in honor of this feast; it is also commemorated in the liturgy of [[January 2]].

Upon the death of [[Jesus]], Stephen began to work hard to spread what was then called [[The Way]]. He preached the teachings of Jesus and participated in the conversion of Jews and Gentiles. ''Acts'' tells the story of how Stephen was tried by the [[Sanhedrin]] for [[blasphemy]] and was then [[Stoning|stoned]] to death by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] [http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+22%3A20].

Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Stephanos'', meaning "crown", which translated into [[Aramaic]] as ''Kelil''. Saint Stephen is traditionally invested with a ''crown of martyrdom'' for Christianity and is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' [[arecaceae|palm]]. In Eastern Christian [[icon]]ography he is shown as a young beardless man with a [[tonsure]], wearing deacon's [[vestments]], and often holding a miniature church building and censer.

==Cult of Saint Stephen==

Many churches are named in honor of Saint Stephen but there was no official "Tomb of St Stephen" for centuries until [[415]], when Christian pilgrims were traveling in large numbers to Jerusalem and a certain priest named Lucian said he had learned by revelation that tomb was in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. [[Gregory of Tours]] reports that the intercession of Stephen preserved an oratory dedicated to him at [[Metz]], in which his relics were preserved, when the Huns burned the entire city, leaving only the oratory standing, Easter eve, [[451]]. ([http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/gregory-hist.html#book3 ''Historia Francorum'' ii.6]).

==St Stephen's Day==
:''Main article [[St. Stephen's Day]]''.
[[December 26]], the "feast of Stephen" referred to in the [[Christmas carol]] ''[[Good King Wenceslas]]'', is called "St. Stephen's Day"; it is a [[public holiday]] in [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Finland]] and [[Romania]]. In [[Catalonia]] (though not elsewhere in Spain) it is called "Sant Esteve" and is a [[bank holiday]].

In [[Irish language|Irish]] it is called '''Lá Fhéile Stiofán''' or '''Lá an Dreoilín''', literally the "Day of the Wren"; several [[Irish mythology|Irish legends]] link episodes in the life of [[Jesus]] to the [[wren]]. In parts of Ireland persons carrying either an effigy of a wren, or an actual caged wren, travel from house to house playing music, singing and dancing. Depending on which region of the country, they are called [[Wrenboys]], [[Mummers]] or [[Strawboys]]. A Mummer's Festival is held at this time every year in the village of [[New Inn]], [[County Galway|Co. Galway]].

A popular rhyme, known to many Irish children and sung at each house visited by the mummers goes as follows:

:The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
:On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
:Up with the penny and down with the pan,
:Give us a penny to bury the wren.

In [[Britain]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and [[Canada]], St. Stephen's Day is known as [[Boxing Day]].

==Media References==

St. Stephen is remembered in the [[Christmas]] song "[[Good King Wenceslas]]".

==Resources==

*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14286b.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'']: Saint Stephen
* [http://www.irishfestivals.net/saintstephensday.htm St. Stephen's Day] at IrishFestivals.net

==Further reading==

*Robert Eisenman, 1997. ''James the Brother of Jesus : The Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls'' makes a case for the figure of Stephen as an invented cover for the actual historical career of [[James the Just]].

[[Category:Christian martyrs|Stephen]]
[[Category:Saints|Stephen]]

==Commemorative shrines==
* In Eastern Jerusalem , Israel - St. Steven's Church.
* In the old city of Jerusalem - the "Lions gate" is called

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, December 27, 2005
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		+	[[Image:Rembrandt-1625.jpg\|thumb\|300px\|The Martyrdom of St. Stephen by Rembrandt.]]
	'''Saint Stephen''' is the '''''Protomartyr''''' or first martyr of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite, the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the Church of England among other religious denominations. He is identified as one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in ''Acts of the Apostles''. The Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated [[December 27]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church\|Eastern Church]] and on December 26 in the Western Church.		'''Saint Stephen''' is the '''''Protomartyr''''' or first martyr of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite, the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the Church of England among other religious denominations. He is identified as one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in ''Acts of the Apostles''. The Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated [[December 27]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church\|Eastern Church]] and on December 26 in the Western Church.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Saint Stephen''' is the '''''Protomartyr''''' or first martyr of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite, the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the Church of England among other religious denominations.  He is identified as one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in ''Acts of the Apostles''.  The Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated [[December 27]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Church]]. A [[simple octave]] is kept by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in honor of this feast; it is also commemorated in the liturgy of [[January 2]].
+'''Saint Stephen''' is the '''''Protomartyr''''' or first martyr of Christianity and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite, the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the Church of England among other religious denominations.  He is identified as one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in ''Acts of the Apostles''.  The Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated [[December 27]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Church]] and on December 26 in the Western Church.
-Upon the death of [[Jesus]], Stephen began to work hard to spread what was then called [[The Way]]. He preached the teachings of Jesus and participated in the conversion of Jews and Gentiles.  ''Acts'' tells the story of how  Stephen was tried by the [[Sanhedrin]] for [[blasphemy]] and was then [[Stoning|stoned]] to death by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] [http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+22%3A20].
+After the ascension of Jesus, the early Church started growing steadily. Its members included native, Middle Eastern Jews as well as Greek-speaking hellenised Jews. When the latter complained, claiming that their needy were being overlooked, the Apostles appointed seven men "full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" to look after such matters. Stephen is the first one mentioned of the seven. Stephen began to work hard to spread what was then called The Way. He preached the teachings of Jesus and participated in the conversion of Jews and Gentiles.  He is credited with performing miracles and successfully debating with those that challenged the Gospel. ''Acts'' tells the story of how  Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy and was then stoned to death by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future [[Saint Paul]] [http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+22%3A20].
-Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Stephanos'', meaning "crown", which translated into [[Aramaic]] as ''Kelil''. Saint Stephen is traditionally invested with a ''crown of martyrdom'' for Christianity and is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' [[arecaceae|palm]]. In Eastern Christian [[icon]]ography he is shown as a young beardless man with a [[tonsure]], wearing deacon's [[vestments]], and often holding a miniature church building and censer.
+Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Stephanos'', meaning "crown", which translated into Aramaic as ''Kelil''. Saint Stephen is traditionally invested with a ''crown of martyrdom'' for Christianity and is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' palm. In Eastern Christian iconography he is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing deacon's vestments, and often holding a miniature church building and censer.
 ==Cult of Saint Stephen==
-Many churches are named in honor of Saint Stephen but there was no official "Tomb of St Stephen" for centuries  until [[415]], when Christian pilgrims were traveling in large numbers to Jerusalem and a certain priest named Lucian said he had learned by revelation that tomb was in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. [[Gregory of Tours]] reports that the intercession of Stephen preserved an oratory dedicated to him at [[Metz]], in which his relics were preserved, when the Huns burned the entire city, leaving only the oratory standing, Easter eve, [[451]]. ([http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/gregory-hist.html#book3 ''Historia Francorum'' ii.6]).
+Many churches are named in honor of Saint Stephen but there was no official "Tomb of St Stephen" for centuries  until [[415]], when Christian pilgrims were traveling in large numbers to Jerusalem and a certain priest named Lucian said he had learned by revelation that tomb was in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. Gregory of Tours reports that the intercession of Stephen preserved an oratory dedicated to him at Metz, in which his relics were preserved, when the Huns burned the entire city, leaving only the oratory standing, Easter eve, [[451]]. ([http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/gregory-hist.html#book3 ''Historia Francorum'' ii.6]).
@@ Line 34: / Line 15: @@
 * [http://www.irishfestivals.net/saintstephensday.htm St. Stephen's Day] at IrishFestivals.net
 [[Category:Christian martyrs|Stephen]]
@@ Line 45: / Line 22: @@
 ==Commemorative shrines==
 * In Eastern Jerusalem , Israel - St. Steven's Church.
-* In the old city of Jerusalem - the "Lions gate"  is called
+* In the old city of Jerusalem - the "Lions gate"  is called St. Stephen's Gate.