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Stephen,
a Greek-speaking Jew, was born in Jerusalem and lived in the
first century. He is considered the “protomartyr,”
being the first person ever to shed blood for Jesus. Stephen
was an inspirational speaker, and was known to be a miracle
worker. When elders of the synagogue got wind of the Jewish
convert's preaching, he was put on trial for blasphemy. Being
too clever a speaker for the elders’ comfort, false witnesses
were brought against him but he was allowed to make a final
statement in self-defense. He sealed his fate by calling his
judges Christ-killers, adding that Moses foretold the coming
of the Messiah (which Stephen believed to be Jesus), and that
Judaism had become obsolete after having paved the way for God's
“more excellent” Christianity. He was promptly sentenced
to be executed by stoning. Stephen's dying words were, “Lay
not this sin to their charge,” which so moved one of his
executioners that he converted and later became known as St.
Paul. The bloodied rocks used to murder Stephen are now considered
precious relics by the Church, and his feast is celebrated in
Great Britain by throwing rocks at birds. Stephen is also the
patron of Hungary, Poland, bricklayers, builders, deacons, and
horses (because in Poland priests are showered with oats on
his feast day by parishioners to protect their nags), and he's
invoked against headaches (because Stephanos is Greek for “crown”
and because of the pain of having a rock thrown at your head).
Stephen’s feast day is December 26. |
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| St.
Stephen
Patron St. of
Stone(d) Masons |
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