Saint Stephen (Koine Greek: Στέφανος, Stephanos; sometimes
spelled "Stephan"), the first martyr of Christianity, was,
according to the Acts of the Apostles, a deacon in the early
church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various
synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial
he made a long speech fiercely denouncing the Jewish authorities
who were sitting in judgement on him and was stoned to death.
His martyrdom was witnessed by Saul of Tarsus (later renamed
Paul), a Pharisee who would later convert to Christianity and
become an apostle. Stephen is venerated as a saint in the Roman
Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern
Orthodox Churches. Stephen's name is derived from the Greek
language Stephanos, meaning "crown". Traditionally, Stephen is
invested with a crown of martyrdom; he is often depicted in art
with three stones and the martyr's palm. In Eastern Christian
iconography, he is shown as a young, beardless man with a
tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestmen