St. Stephen the First Martyr icon

Orthodox icon of Saint Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen.Copy of a contemporary icon. Commemorated December 27. Protector Saint of : Wedding Crowns In the early days of the Church it was necessary for the Apostle to appoint certain people to assist them in caring for the widows and those in need. Those they selected were called deacons. Saint Stephen was among the first deacons ordained in the Church. The Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons is called archdeacon. He was also the first Christian martyr, suffering for Christ when he was about thirty, and because of this he is know as a protomartyr. Saint Stephen was the first to shed his blood for the Gospel. Saint Stephan defeated the Jewish teachers in debate and they immediately accused him of speaking blasphemy against God and Moses. Brought before the Sanhedrin he gave a speech inspired by the Holy Spirit in which he denounced the Jews for persecuting the prophets and for executing the Promis