Difference between revisions of "Category:Stephen (subject)"

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==Overview==
==Overview==


Stephen is mentioned solely in Christian sources, namely, in the [[Acts of Apostles]]. He is introduced as the leader of the [[Seven Deacons]] chosen by the [[Twelve Apostles]] to serve the Christian "Hellenists" who felt "their widows had been neglected in the daily distribution of food." Nothing is said about the biography of Stephen, except that he was "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit". See [[Choice of the Seven]].
Stephen was an Hellenistic Jew who joined the early Jesus movement after the death of Jesus.


Stephen was then accused by some Hellenistic Jews of "speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God" (6:11). They brought him before the Sanhedrin. Before the high priest, Stephen replied to his accusers with a long speech. He enraged them by reproaching them for the death of Jesus. When Stephen claimed to see "the glory of God and Jesus," and called Jesus "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God... they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. [58] Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." Stephen was buried by "devout people" (8:2). Acts claims that a violent persecution followed against the Christian Hellenists (while the Twelve were not affected) (8:1-3).   
Stephen is mentioned solely in Christian sources, namely, in the [[Acts of Apostles]]. He is introduced as the leader of the [[Seven Deacons]] chosen by the [[Twelve Apostles]] to serve the Christian "Hellenists" (Hellenistic Jewish members of the Jesus movement) who felt "their widows had been neglected in the daily distribution of food." Nothing is said about the biography of Stephen, except that he was "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit". See [[Choice of the Seven]].
 
Stephen was then accused by some other Hellenistic Jews of "speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God" (6:11). They brought him before the Sanhedrin. Before the high priest, Stephen replied to his accusers with a long speech. He enraged them by reproaching them for the death of Jesus. When Stephen claimed to see "the glory of God and Jesus," and called Jesus "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God... they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. [58] Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." Stephen was buried by "devout people" (8:2). Acts claims that a violent persecution followed against the Christian Hellenists (while the Twelve and the Hebrews were not affected) (8:1-3).   


Acts claims that [[:Category:Paul of Tarsus (subject)|Paul of Tarsus]] was present at the stoning of Stephen and approved it, and was involved in the persecution of the Christian Hellenists that followed the death of Stephen.
Acts claims that [[:Category:Paul of Tarsus (subject)|Paul of Tarsus]] was present at the stoning of Stephen and approved it, and was involved in the persecution of the Christian Hellenists that followed the death of Stephen.
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Epiphanius (Haer. xx, 4) numbers Stephen among the seventy disciples.
Epiphanius (Haer. xx, 4) numbers Stephen among the seventy disciples.


In 415 CE a certain priest named Lucian claimed to have learned by revelation that the remains of Stephen were in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. The relics were then exhumed and carried first to the church of Mount Sion, then, in 460, to the basilica erected by Eudocia outside the Damascus Gate, on the spot where, according to tradition, the stoning had taken place. In recent years a new edifice has been erected by the Dominican Fathers on the old foundations on the Eudocian basilica.
In 415 CE a certain priest named Lucian claimed to have learned by revelation that the remains of Stephen were in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. The relics were then exhumed and carried first to the church of Mount Sion, then, in 460, to the chapel erected by Eudocia outside the Damascus Gate, on the spot where, according to tradition, the stoning had taken place. The chapel was destroyed during the Persian invasion in 615 and rebuilt in 638, then enlarged by the Crusaders to be eventually destroyed when Saladin conquered Jerusalem in 1187. In 1900 a new edifice was erected by the Dominican Fathers on the old foundations on the Eudocian and Crusader basilica.


In the 13th century, Jacobus de Voragine's ''Legenda Aurea'' offered a detailed legendary narrative of the life and martyrdom of [[Stephen]], supplementing the scarce data from the [[Acts of Apostles]].
In the 13th century, Jacobus de Voragine's ''Legenda Aurea'' offered a detailed legendary narrative of the life and martyrdom of [[Stephen]], supplementing the scarce data from the [[Acts of Apostles]].
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* [[Stephen (research)]]
* [[Stephen (research)]]
== Major Christian Churches dedicated to Saint Stephen Martyr ==
* St. Stephen's Churches may be also dedicated to either Pope Stephen I (3rd cent) or King Saint Stephen I of Hungary (10th cent.)
==== Albania ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Cathedral,_Shkod%C3%ABr St. Stephen's Cathedral, Shkodër, Albania] -- Built in 1858-67, the Roman Catholic church is the cathedral of the city of Shkodër (Scutari) in northwestern Albania and one of the city's most important religious buildings.
==== Australia ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_St_Stephen,_Brisbane Cathedral of St Stephen], Brisbane, Queensland, Australia -- Construction of the gothic revival building started in 1863. The church serves as cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane and seat of its archbishop in Brisbane,
==== Austria ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Cathedral,_Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral], Vienna, Austria -- The mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna is the most important religious building in Vienna and one of the city's most recognizable symbols.
==== Israel ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Basilica,_Jerusalem St. Stephen's Basilica], Jerusalem, Israel  [built on the traditional site of Stephen's martyrdom]
==== Italy ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano,_Assisi Santo Stefano], Assisi, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biella_Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Stephen], Biella, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano,_Bologna Basilica of Santo Stefano], Bologna, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano,_Capri Santo Stefano], Capri, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano_(Genoa) Santo Stefano], Genoa, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano_al_Ponte Santo Stefano al Ponte], Florence, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_di_Santo_Stefano_Maggiore Santo Stefano Maggiore], Milan, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_di_Santo_Stefano_Maggiore Santo Stefano Maggiore], Milan, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prato_Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Stephen], Prato, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano_al_Monte_Celio Santo Stefano Rotondo], Rome, Italy
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Stefano_degli_Abissini Santo Stefano degli Abissini], Vatican, Rome, Italy
* [https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_Santo_Stefano_(Venezia) Santo Stefano], Venice, Italy
==== United States ====
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Episcopal_Cathedral_(Harrisburg,_Pennsylvania) St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral], Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Episcopal_Pro-Cathedral_(Wilkes-Barre,_Pennsylvania) St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral], Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania


==Related categories==
==Related categories==

Latest revision as of 11:18, 25 November 2021

Stephen Giotto.jpg


Stephen (1st century CE) was a leader of the nascent Christian movement, the head of the Seven Deacons and the first recorded martyr of the Church.

< Events : Birth of Stephen -- Choice of the Seven -- Preaching of Stephen -- Martyrdom of Stephen -- Burial of Stephen -- Relics of Stephen >

< Acts of Apostles -- Paul of Tarsus -- Seven Deacons >

< Fiction : Stephen (art) -- Stephen (cinema) -- Stephen (literature) -- Stephen (music) >


Overview

Stephen was an Hellenistic Jew who joined the early Jesus movement after the death of Jesus.

Stephen is mentioned solely in Christian sources, namely, in the Acts of Apostles. He is introduced as the leader of the Seven Deacons chosen by the Twelve Apostles to serve the Christian "Hellenists" (Hellenistic Jewish members of the Jesus movement) who felt "their widows had been neglected in the daily distribution of food." Nothing is said about the biography of Stephen, except that he was "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit". See Choice of the Seven.

Stephen was then accused by some other Hellenistic Jews of "speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God" (6:11). They brought him before the Sanhedrin. Before the high priest, Stephen replied to his accusers with a long speech. He enraged them by reproaching them for the death of Jesus. When Stephen claimed to see "the glory of God and Jesus," and called Jesus "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God... they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. [58] Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." Stephen was buried by "devout people" (8:2). Acts claims that a violent persecution followed against the Christian Hellenists (while the Twelve and the Hebrews were not affected) (8:1-3).

Acts claims that Paul of Tarsus was present at the stoning of Stephen and approved it, and was involved in the persecution of the Christian Hellenists that followed the death of Stephen.

Undoubtedly Stephen played an important role in the development of the nascent Christian movement, although the paucity of evidence makes an historical reconstruction of this figure extremely difficult.

Stephen in later Christian tradition

Epiphanius (Haer. xx, 4) numbers Stephen among the seventy disciples.

In 415 CE a certain priest named Lucian claimed to have learned by revelation that the remains of Stephen were in Caphar Gamala, some distance to the north of Jerusalem. The relics were then exhumed and carried first to the church of Mount Sion, then, in 460, to the chapel erected by Eudocia outside the Damascus Gate, on the spot where, according to tradition, the stoning had taken place. The chapel was destroyed during the Persian invasion in 615 and rebuilt in 638, then enlarged by the Crusaders to be eventually destroyed when Saladin conquered Jerusalem in 1187. In 1900 a new edifice was erected by the Dominican Fathers on the old foundations on the Eudocian and Crusader basilica.

In the 13th century, Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda Aurea offered a detailed legendary narrative of the life and martyrdom of Stephen, supplementing the scarce data from the Acts of Apostles.

Stephen, in ancient sources

Stephen, in the literature & the arts

The Stoning of Stephen was the most popular scene in Christian iconography, depicted by artists such us Lorenzo Lotto, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, and many others. Other scenes, taken from the Legenda Aurea, such as the Birth of Stephen, the Consecration of Stephen, the Preaching of Stephen and the Burial of Stephen, are more seldom attested. Filippo Lippi and Vittore Carpaccio offer the most conspicuous examples of visual narratives of the life of Stephen.

At the end of the 19th century, Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross (1896 Kingsley), novel offers the first example of modern fictional biography of Stephen and signals a shift of interest from the martyrdom to his life.

Stephen in scholarship

Related categories

External links