The Second Day of Christmas (Twelvetide)

2016-12-26

The Second Day of Christmas (Twelvetide)

Stoning of Saint Stephen, altarpiece of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, by Jacopo & Domenico Tintoretto

We are now in the Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide. This is a Christian celebratory season marking the nativity.

The First Day of Christmas was yesterday, Christmas Day. The remaining successive days in Twelvetide continue through January 1.

Today is also St Stephen's Day aka the Feast of Saint Stephen. This day commemorates Stephen, the first Christian martyr who was stoned to death in Jerusalem, then part of the Roman Empire in Judea for alleged blasphemy of Mosaic law by the Sanhedrin who rejected Christ and his followers.

It is said that the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus (prior to becoming St Paul the Apostle) held the cloaks of those who put Stephen to death for his pious and indomitable spiritual beliefs. He related this in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

The historical information includes his having the countenance of an angel as he passed from the earthly dimension to the presence of the Almighty.

The circumstances of his death included the presence of the Throne of God with Christ at His right hand. It would seem that Christianity's protomartyr was well received into the bosom of the objects of his worship while alive.

The story of the unearthing of his relics centuries later was equally astounding as related by those adherents to Christ who found them. Saint Stephen was no ordinary Christian in the eyes of the one true God.

Acts of the Apostles

6: 5   And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6: 8   And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

6: 9   Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

7:59   And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

8: 2   And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

11:19   Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

22:20   And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Holy Bible King James Version

Acts of the Apostles
6: 5	And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6: 8	And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
6: 9	Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
7:59	And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
8: 2	And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
11:19	Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
22:20	And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
Holy Bible King James Version