Saint Stephen

Saint Stephen was one of the first seven deacons chosen by the early church in the Acts of the Apostles. He is regarded as the first Christian martyr, or "protomartyr". After Jesus's death, Stephen's outspoken support of Jesus and the Christian disciples, led to his being tried for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, and stoned to death. His feast day, St. Stephen's Day, is celebrated on December 26 in the West, and on December 27 in the East (in Britain this day is celebrated as Boxing Day). He is not to be confused with Saint Stephen of Hungary Stephen