DEC 27: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM.
PROPERS: 12-27_Stephen_DL (1)
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Church celebrates today the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and the 1st to shed his blood for Christ, therefore known as the Protomartyr. St. Stephen was one of the 7 deacons ordained by the Apostles to take care of the material needs of the Christian widows and orphans. He was also a great preacher of Christ’s Gospel. He preached Christ to the very people who had crucified the Lord. His zeal aroused the anger and jealousy of the Jewish leaders, and thus condemed him as a blasphemer. They led him outside the walls of Jerusalem and Stoned him to death as witnessed by the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Theologian. In dying, he forgave his murderers and prayed for them. The feast of St. Stephen was introduced in the fourth century.
