Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr and one of the first deacons of the Christian Church. He was one of seven men selected and ordained by the Apostles to provide aid to the poor, elderly, and widows within the church community. St. Stephen was a gifted evangelist, respected for his preaching abilities.
The early life of St. Stephan is virtually unknown but his Greek name, Stephanos, suggests that he was a Hellinistic Jew. He ministered mostly to the Hellinistic converts, with whom the Apostles had difficulty speaking.
