St. Stephen

"Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons ordained by the Church. The name Stephen is Greek and according to Acts 6 he is a foreign-born Jew or a Hellenist who spoke Greek. The Hellenists were a minority in the Christian community and they complained that their elderly widows have been neglected. In response to this pressing concern, the apostles decided to select seven deacons to help them extend their pastoral care to those in need. These deacons were therefore important not just for the pastoral care they provided to the impoverished but because they helped the apostles focus more on teaching. As the oldest of the seven ordained deacons, Saint Stephen was given the title of archdeacon. He was also recognized for his exemplary gift as an evangelist. Miracles and great preaching were attributed to him and he would engage in important discussions in the synagogues of Diaspora Jews in the capital."