Saint Stephen, the First Christian Martyr |
The first ever Christian martyr died about 35 a.d. in Jerusalem. He was a learned Jew and one of the first deacons. After his conversion, Stephen took control of almsgiving to elderly widows in his community. When he began to preach he often criticized some aspects of Jewish Mosaic law.
After Stephen had made some particulary hostile allegations, his Jewish listeners became outraged. He accused them of resisting the true Spirit and being responsible for the death of Christ.
The mob stoned him to death with the consent of Saul, a Roman Jew. Saul later converted and became Paul, the great Christian leader.
St Stephen is the patron of bricklayers, stonemasons, builders and deacons. His emblems are stones, the palm of martyrdom and a book.
