SAINT ARCHDEACON STEPHEN

Saint Stephen, the first martyr and archdeacon, is the first martyr of the Church of Christ, and therefore he is called the Protomartyr. He is called Archdeacon because he was the first of the seven deacons appointed by the holy apostles to serve the poor in Jerusalem. He suffered a year after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Like the holy 12 apostles, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit and performed many miracles. The Jews stoned him because of his confession of faith in Christ, and his last words were, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”