Saint Stephen

Upon the opening of Saint Stephen’s coffin there was an earthquake, and there came out of the coffin such a fragrance, that no one remembered to have ever smelt any thing like it. And from the heavens they heard angelic voices, which could be heard for a great distance, saying: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, to men of good pleasure.” -from the writings of Lucian, describing the recovery of the relics of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr. The Orthodox Church celebrates on August 2 the translation of the relics of Saint Stephen which were lost for multiple centuries after his martyrdom and recovered in either the fourth or fifth century AD. Pictured here is our holy icon of Saint Stephen - may this courageous martyr for the faith continue to inspire us to speak boldly in the face of a world increasingly hostile to the Gospel of Christ. Saint Stephen is commemorated on December 27.  *** This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand u