Ordination of St. Stephen by St. Peter
The stoning of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Prayer to St. Stephen, Protomartyr
The Apostles chose Stephen the deacon, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, whom the Jews stoned whilst he prayed, saying: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge.”
V. By the merits and prayers of blessed Stephen, R. Be merciful, O God, to Thy people. Let us pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, Who didst consecrate the first-fruits of Thy martyrs in the blood of blessed Stephen the deacon; grant, we beseech Thee, that he may pray for us, even as he also prayed for his persecutors, to our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
