Difference between revisions of "Category:Stephen (subject)"
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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 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 the 13th century, Jacobus de Voragine's ''Legenda Aurea'' offered a detailed legendary narrative of the life and martyrdom of [[Stephen]], | 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 ancient sources == | ||
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== Stephen in the literature & the arts == | == 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. | |||
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, 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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 05:49, 17 July 2012
Stephen (1st century CE) was a leader of the nascent Christian movement, recorded as the first martyr of the Church.
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".
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).
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 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 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.
- See Stephen (arts)
Stephen in scholarship
Related categories
External links
Pages in category "Stephen (subject)"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
1
- Saint Etienne et son sanctuaire à Jérusalem (St. Stephen and His Sanctuary in Jerusalem / 1894 Lagrange), book
- Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross (1896 Kingsley), novel
- The Burial Place of St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr and S.S. Nicodemus, Gamaliel, Abibo (1923 Gisler), book
- Stephen, Boy of the Mountain (1947 Lillie & Walker), children's novel
- Stefan, drengen fra bjerget = Stephen, Boy of the Mountain (1948 @1947 Lillie & Walker / Mehrn), children's novel (Danish ed.)
- St Stephen and the Hellenists in the Primitive Church (1958 Simon), book
- St. Stephen and Herod (1968 Fussell), oratorio
- Stephen: A Singular Saint (1968 Scharlemann), book
- The Stephen Speech: A Literary and Redactional Study of Acts 7, 2-53 (1976 Kilgallen), book
- The Other Twelve (1988 Flynn), non-fiction
- Forbidden Gates (1990 Williamson / Boddy), children's novel & art
- Stephanos. Histoire et discours d'Étienne dans les Actes des Apôtres (1992 Légasse), book
- The Trial of Stephen: The First Christian Martyr (1997 Watson), book
- Stephen the Martyr (1998 Elwood), novel
- Stephen’s Test of Faith (1998 Yake), short film