Saint of the Day – 25 April – St Stephen (Died c471) Bishop Martyr of Antioch, Defender of the Truth and the Church of Christ. Born in Antioch and died their by drowing. Bishop of Antioch from 451 to 471. The image below is St Stepehn the Fiorst Martyr with the Palm of Martyrdom.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Antioch, St Stephen, Bishop and Martyr, who suffered much from the heretics opposed to the Council of Chalcedon and was precipitated into the River Orontes in the time of the Emperor Zeno.”
Information about Stephen’s birth and youth is fragmentary. We know that he was born in Antioch in Syria, at the time an important cultural and religious centre, into a fervent Christian family.
His theological education likely took place in Antioch itself, where he distinguished himself by his intellectual acumen and profound knowledge of the Scriptures.
In 451, Stephen was Consecrated as the Bishop of Antioch, succeeding Maximus II. His Episcopate coincided with a period of Ecclesiastical turmoil, marked by the Monophysite heresy which divided the Church.
Stephen firmly supported the orthodox doctrine, defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 which condemned Monophysitism and affirmed the dual natures of Christ, human and divine.
His theological positions attracted opposition from Monophysite heretics, who persecuted him bitterly. Stephen faced slander, violence and even exile. In 471, under Emperor Zeno, who favoured Monophysitism, his suffering reached its peak and he was arrested, tortured and finally thrown into the Orontes River, where he died by drowning.
Saint Stephen is venerated as a Martyr and his liturgical Feast is celebrated on today.
AnaStpaul 