History of saint stephens day
Saint Stephen
1st-century Christian martyr and saint
This article is about Stephen the Protomartyr. For other uses, including other saints, see Saint Stephen (disambiguation).
Saint Stephen the Protomartyr | |
|---|---|
Saint Stephen the Martyr by Carlo Crivelli | |
| Born | c. AD 5 |
| Died | 33–36 (aged 27–31) Jerusalem, Judaea, Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | All churches that believe in Sainthood |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 25 December (Armenian Apostolic Church) 26 December (Western) 27 December, 4 January, 2 August, 15 September (Eastern) Tobi 1 (Coptic Christianity) |
| Attributes | Red Martyr, stones, dalmatic, censer, miniature church, Gospel Book, martyr's palm. In Orthodox and Eastern Christianity he often wears an orarion |
| Patronage | Altar servers; Acoma Native American Pueblo; Bricklayers; casket makers; Cetona, Italy; deacons; headaches; horses; Kessel, Belgium; masons; Owensboro, Kentucky; Passau, Germany; Kigali, Rwanda; Dodoma, Tanzania; Serbia; Ligao; Republic of Srpska; Prato, Italy |
Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος, romanized: Stéphanos; c. AD 5 – c. 34) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become an apostle, participated in Stephen's execution.
The only source for information about Stephen is the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen is mentioned in Acts 6 as one of the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews selected to administer the daily charitable distribution of food to the Greek-speaking widows.
The Cathol St. Stephen's Day is an official national holiday in Hungary. Its celebrations are of great importance as it is the day on which the foundations of the Hungarian state were laid. The day is celebrated in honour of King Stephen, who made it possible for Hungary to become a sovereign state. This momentous day has deep historical and cultural roots and invites us to pause and reflect on the life and achievements of Saint Stephen. The festival culminates in an enormous firework display along the Danube River. Hungary's citizens hold St. Stephen's Day in the highest regard. From history to significance, here is everything you need to know about this day. (Also read: International Bow Day 2023: Date, history, significance and all you need to know ) St. Stephen’s Day will be celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm on August 20. Stephen received a crown from Pope Sylvester II and the honour of becoming the first king of Hungary in 1000 A.D. His crown, which is considered a holy relic, is still among Hungary's priceless treasures. Stephen died on 15 August 1038. He was converted to Catholicism on 20 August 1083. August 20 was originally celebrated in 1092 AD after Ladislaus I made it a holy day. Before Queen Maria Theresa made it an official national holiday in 1771, it was celebrated as St Stephen's Day. The name of the holiday was changed to Constitution Day in 1950 after undergoing several changes. To commemorate the establishment of the Hungarian state, the Hungarian Parliament restored it as St Stephen's Day. St Stephen's Day has a profound significance as a day dedicated to commemorating the life and martyrd You can learn about Stephen in Acts chapters 6 & 7, where his defence and death by stoning is covered. Stephen was a Hellenized Jew. That was a group of Jewish people who copied Greek culture but didn’t necessarily come from Greek ancestry. After his conversion to Christianity Stephen was appointed to be a deacon serving Jerusalem’s Hellenist Jewish converts. Stephen, who was a gifted evangelist, preached in his community. He also discussed matters with people from the synagogue’s Diaspora Jews. Diaspora Jews were those dispersed after the Babylonian exile outside of Palestine or modern day Israel. This caused problems because of religious, philosophical and political belief in Jewish society. Stephen, in one of his debates, so outraged them that he was arrested and charged with blasphemy. His defence implied that the temple was idolatrous, likened to the Golden Calf that Aaron had made in the wilderness. Afterwards he was taken out of the city and stoned to death. This was witnessed and assented to by a young man named Saul of Tarsus who went on to have the dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and become St. Paul. The Feast Day of St Stephen is on the 26th December, every year. Many people in UK forget, or are not aware of, St Stephen’s Day – we know it better as Boxing Day. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg, he introduced many Germanic traditions into fashionable society. Christmas trees and Christmas cards are just two of those which have since become the norm in the UK. The tradition of Boxing Day, although not directly attributed to the Victorian era, did come to the fore around this time, possibly as early as the 1830s. Boxing Day is, in a way, similar to the concept of Mothering Sunday. This was when people in service were given time off to spend with their families. The people that they were in service to, would give t N/A • • • • N/A 15+ Here is the story of St. Stephen, our first martyr. We have an explanation on how he fits in the Christmas season, and some explanation of some old customs attached to his feast day. Ancient tradition tells us that while Advent brought God to man through the Incarnation of the Word, so the twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany were to bring man to God. On the very first day after Christmas we meet the first member of the suite of the Great King. The Saviour's immediate attendant is St. Stephen of Jerusalem, the first martyr, for there is no greater love for the newborn King than to lay down one's life for Him. Even though the Mass of the day indicates that this feast was originally independent of the Christmas cycle, the Divine Office unites this feast with Christmas in the most intimate fashion. The children, especially small boys, would be happy to hear the story of St. Stephen as it is written in Matins of his feast day: The latter ascended while the Jews were stoning him because the former
St. Stephen's Day 2023: Date, history, significance and everything you need to know
St. Stephen's Day in Hungary celebrates the foundations of the Hungarian state and the life of King Stephen. From date to history, here's all you need to know.
When is St. Stephen's Day 2023?
History of St. Stephen's Day
St. Stephen's Day significance
St Stephen (the first Christian martyr) and Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Catholic Activity: Celebrating St. Stephen's Day
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Yesterday we celebrated the temporal birth of our Eternal King; today we celebrate the triumphant passion of His soldier. For yesterday our King, clothed in the garb of our flesh and coming from the palace of the virginal womb, deigned to visit the world; today the soldier, leaving the tent of the body, has gone to heaven in triumph. The one, while preserving the majesty of the everlasting God, putting on the servile girdle of flesh, entered into the field of this world ready for the fray. The other, laying aside the perishable garment of the body, ascended to the palace of heaven to reign eternally. The One descended, veiled in flesh; the other ascended, crowned with blood.