On the day of 26 December
The feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, the first of seven deacons whom the Apostles chose as co-workers in service, who was also the first of the Lord's disciples to shed his blood at Jerusalem. As he gave witness on behalf of Christ Jesus, he declared that he saw Christ standing in glory at the right hand of the Father and was struck down by stones as he interceded for his persecutors.
