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Holy First-martyr and Archdeacon Stephen 1/9/2013
He was a relative of the Holy Apostle Paul, a Jew from among the Jews that lived in the Greek provinces. He was the first of the Seven deacons that the Holy Apostles ordained and appointed to take care of the poor in Jerusalem. That is why he is called Archdeacon. By power of his prayer he worked great many miracles among men. The wicked Jews disputed with him, but were always overthrown by his wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit Who acted through him. Then the defeated Jews, used to treachery and slander, stirred the people and their chiefs against the innocent Stephen. The accusation against Stephen was that he blasphemed against God and the Holy Prophet Moses. Instantly they found false witnesses to confirm the accusations. Then Stephen came out before people and they all could see his face radiant as an Angel, i.e. illumined with a divine light as once was Moses while conversing with God. Stephen opened his mouth and talked about the countless good deeds and miracles of God for the well being of the people of Israel throughout the history, but also the many transgressions, the ingratitude and resistance of the Israel to God. Particularly he denounced them for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, whom they had betrayed and murdered. And while they gnashed their teeth, Stephen lifted his eyes and saw Heaven opened and the glory of God. What he saw he made known to the Jews: “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God “ (Acts 7:56). Then the wicked men took him out of the city and stoned him to death. Among his tormentors was his relative Saul, who was later to become Apostle Peter. At that time in the distance stood the Holy Mother of God with Saint John the Theologian and watched the martyrdom of the first martyr to suffer for the truth of Her Son and God, praying for Stephen. This took place a year after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Gamaleel, a Jewish chief and a secret Christian took the body of Saint Stephen in secret and buried it on his land. Thus ended his life in glory the first of the Christian martyrs and inhabited the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
