Today is Saint Stephen's Day
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Wednesday the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr and first archdeacon in the Jerusalem Community Church.
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Sunday the Day of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr and first archdeacon in the Jerusalem Community Church.
The community church accepted people from all social circles and the rich supported the church while Stephen designated the activity and the vocation of each member.
It is believed that this has been the first real Christian community, which was so just and fair that it triggered the envy of the Judea. They slandered the archdeacon and he was tried by the Sanhedrin (high priests) for blasphemy against Moses and God and speaking against the Temple and the Law. Stephen was stoned to death (c. A.D. 34–35) by an infuriated mob.
Saint Stephen's name is derived from the Greek Stephanos, meaning "crown." Traditionally, Saint Stephen is invested with a crown of martyrdom for Christianity; he is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' palm. In Eastern Christian iconography, he is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments, and often holding a miniature church building or a censer.
In 415 CE Christian pilgrims discovered Stephen's relics, after which they were solemnly transferred to a church built in his honor in Jerusalem.
Saint Stephen Day is also the Third Day of the Nativity in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the name day of Stefan and Stefka and their derivatives such as Stefanka, Stefaniya, Fanny, Bentsislav, Stamen, Stansilava, Tsanko, Stoyan etc.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Bulgaria is set to experience favorable weather conditions on March 29, with mostly sunny skies forecasted across the country
A new ordinance aimed at improving road safety by enhancing traffic light regulations has been drafted and released for public discussion by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Transport
Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple are among the tech giants slated to convene in Sofia for a landmark event in 2025
In anticipation of the forthcoming adoption of regulations on packaging and packaging waste, the Association Polymers is spearheading a critical discussion on the pivotal role of recycling
Bulgaria is grappling with a staggering burden of cardiovascular diseases, with more than 6 million new cases and over 1.8 million deaths reported annually
A bomb signal was received this morning at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022