Martyr
Stephen
Stephen, Archdeacon & First Martyr
New Calendar December 27 Old Calendar January 9
Why they are a saint
Stephen, Archdeacon & First Martyr is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on December 27. Venerated as a martyr who died for the faith in Christ; little else about his life has come down to us.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Life
Saint Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles, and so is called archdeacon. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached Christ and defeated the teachers of the Law in debate. Accused of blasphemy, he answered before the Sanhedrin with a speech recounting the history of Israel and rebuking those who persecuted the prophets and put the Messiah to death (Acts 7).
Seeing the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, he said so, and they dragged him out of the city and stoned him while he prayed, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' He was about thirty, the first Christian martyr. Gamaliel and his son secretly took up his body and buried it on their estate. His relics were uncovered in 415.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Stephen as a patron when they bear the name Stephen at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on December 27. As a martyr, he is also asked for courage and faithfulness under trial.
Prayer
O holy Stephen, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.