RO-MD Transnational Educational Project - It is all about legends and a translegendary friendship
27 decembrie/09 ianuarie
December 27 / January 9
Saint Stephen was a native Jew of the tribe of Abraham. As the number of Christians increased after the founding of the Church and the number of requests for various apostolic ministries increased, seven men "filled with the Holy Ghost and wisdom" were chosen from the community. They were meant to serve both in religious services and to oversee the proper organisation of common meals. The first of these was Stefan, and the other six are: Filip, Prohor, Nicanor, Timon, Parmena and Nicolae. Their role in the early Church far exceeded the role that deacons play today. They preached the word of the gospel, baptised, and assisted in the worship of the governing bodies of the Church in Jerusalem.
St. Stephen knew the Scriptures very well and preached Christ with great power. The Sadducees and Pharisees made some men say that they had heard him telling blasphemous words against Moses and God. At that time, blasphemy was punishable by death. Arriving in front of the Sanhedrin, he confronted the judges, who demanded that St. Stephen be stoned to death. In those moments, St. Stephen had a vision in which he saw Christ “standing at the right hand of God. And he said: ”Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts of the Apostles)
Because it was customary for those killed with stones not to be buried in the family grave, it is believed that he was placed in the grave of a Christian. His relics were discovered in 415.
St. Stephen the Apostle, the first martyr of the Church of Christ, is the first model of Christian sacrifice for all.
Translated by:
Team 01 - The Holiday Bringers - Ocrainiciuc Ioana & Prodan Adriana