The Church Commemorates the First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen Today
Today, the church honors the memory of the First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, who was martyred by stoning approximately three years after the Ascension of the Lord.
Saint Stephen, a Hellenist Jew, was part of the group of the seven deacons chosen by the Apostles to carry out charitable work within the early Christian community of Jerusalem. Described in the Acts of the Apostles as a man filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Stephen preached boldly and performed numerous miracles. His actions stirred up animosity among the Judean priesthood, who could not grasp the universal message and liberating teachings of Christ to all people, especially the oppressed.
Stephen was accused of blasphemy and rejecting Judaism for proclaiming before the Sanhedrin that Moses, the Mosaic Law, the Prophets, and the Righteous of the Old Testament paved the way for the true Savior, Jesus Christ.
In the face of his executioners, Stephen emulated Christ’s love and forgiveness, asking God to forgive them for their sins.
Source: Church of Cyprus