According to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:1), the Christian community was rapidly growing, and there was a custom of caring for widows, orphans, and the needy. However, the Hellenistic Jews complained that the Hebrews were not providing sufficient aid to their widows. The apostles addressed this issue by appointing seven men of good reputation to serve as deacons. Their role was to fairly distribute material aid, attend to the service at the tables, and free the apostles for prayer and preaching. Among these chosen was the Hellenist Stephen (Greek: “crown”). Stephen, distinguished by his great faith and power, not only helped the community but also preached and performed miracles. Some members of the synagogues tried to debate with him, but they could not withstand his wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Consequently, slanders began to circulate about Stephen, accusing him of speaking disrespectfully of Moses and God. False witnesses came forward to confirm these charges, and he was brought before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:2–53). The witnesses claimed that Stephen spoke of the destruction of the Temple and of changing the customs handed down by Moses. In response, Stephen recounted the history of the Jews, from Abraham’s departure from Mesopotamia through the stories of Joseph, Moses, Solomon, and the Jerusalem Temple, emphasizing that “the Most High does not dwell in temples made by hands.” He accused the judges of murdering the One whom the prophets foretold. In his final vision, Stephen declared: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:56). Those who heard this perceived it as blasphemy, covered their ears, shouted, and dragged him out of the city, where they began to stone him. The witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul (the future apostle Paul). During the stoning, Stephen prayed, and, falling to his knees, cried out: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” After these words, he fell asleep. At that time, Saul approved of the execution of the first martyr, and that same day a great persecution of the Christian community in Jerusalem began, forcing its members, except for the apostles, to flee the city.

Iconography
In Ukrainian iconography, Stephen is most commonly depicted in the apse of a church, and in the iconostasis, he is often shown on the deacon doors (or doorposts), on the opposite side from Saint Lawrence. In the 18th and 19th centuries, icons depicting the scene of his martyrdom became widespread, and from the late 19th century, ferotones (processional icons) with an image of Stephen became more common. Iconographically, Stephen is portrayed as a young, beardless man in a dalmatic, usually white or red in color, with an orarium draped over his left shoulder. In his right hand, he often holds a censer or a censor (a censer with a handle but without a chain); sometimes he holds a tabernacle in the shape of a temple model, symbolizing his diaconal service. In his other hand, the saint holds the Bible or symbols of martyrdom: a palm branch and/or a cross. A characteristic attribute is stones, which may be depicted under the saint’s feet, in his hands, or arranged on the Bible.

Mikhailo Skop