King Stephen, Hand-Painted Saint Medal, Patron of Hungary

       Saint Stephen, also known as “King Stephen,” lived in the 11th Century in Hungary. Although he was born to a pagan family, Stephen was nevertheless baptized, along with his father, at age 10. Stephen was the king of the Magyars, while his wife, Gisella, was the sister of the Emperor Saint Henry II. Saint Stephen worked to unite the people and Saint Astricus was a loyal assistant. Stephen eventually united the Magyars into one nation. He skillfully defeated the pagans and their nobility. He was crowned King on Christmas day in 1001 by Emperor Otto, sanctioned by Pope Sylvester II. King Stephen worked hard to organize religious parishes and offices and some of the monasteries he created exist today. He is often invoked against the death of children, and is the patron of bricklayers, masons, and stonecutters. His emblems are depicted in banners of the cross, swords, and images of Saint Stephen on horseback, or holding a church, or standing regally with a banner of the Blessed Virgi