After eleven months, the emperor ordered that all the imprisoned Elders be brought to trial. They were subjected to beatings, torture, and hunger. Saint Stephen, the first to be brought to trial, was again urged to renounce the veneration of icons. But he fearlessly declared, “I will never deny icons, for through them we receive the grace of the Holy Spirit.” The torturers, not able to break the will of the saint, cut out his tongue.
Saint Stephen, unable to speak, wrote on a piece of parchment, “I confess the Son of God, Who trampled down death by death, and Who is glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit.” For this confession, the emperor ordered that the saint be beheaded.
On November 28, 764, Saint Stephen the New suffered martyrdom. The emperor’s soldiers beheaded the saint, and his body was thrown into the sea. However, by the will of God, the body of the martyr was cast up on the shore and buried by Christians. Many miracles were wrought at the grave of the saint, and his relics gave healing to the sick and suffering. The faithful glorified the holy martyr Stephen the New as a great defender of Orthodoxy, and a valiant warrior of Christ.
Despite the persecution and suffering he endured, Saint Stephen remained steadfast in his faith and devotion to the holy icons. His courage and willingness to stand up for Orthodoxy inspired many others to do the same. His life and martyrdom serve as a reminder of the importance of holding fast to our spiritual beliefs, even in the face of opposition and persecution.
May we draw strength and inspiration from the example of Saint Stephen, and may his prayers and intercessions continue to uplift and protect all those who call upon him in faith.
Regenerate at the age of fifty-three, and was adorned with eternal glory.
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