Grooved serigraph of Saint Stephen. The background is gold colored with a red outline. The icon can either be hanged on the wall or stand on any surface.
Short life of Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen was one of the seven deacons of the early Church and was distinguished for his faith, love and gift of eloquence. Although he was not among the Twelve Apostles, he is regarded as one of their earliest and most active disciples, with a strong missionary and charitable ministry. By the power of his faith, he performed miracles and preached the Gospel with boldness, which led to opposition from the Jews. He was falsely accused of blasphemy and brought before the Sanhedrin, where he firmly defended his faith in Christ. His testimony angered his persecutors and he was taken outside the walls of Jerusalem and stoned to death. At the moment of his martyrdom, he prayed for those who were killing him, saying: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” showing forgiveness and love in practice. For this reason, he is called the Protomartyr, as he was the first to suffer martyrdom for Christ. The Church commemorates his memory on December 27, while other commemorations of his relics are observed at different times throughout the year.
