Saint Stephen
1 — 36 · Feast day: December 26
Saint Stephen was the first to shed his blood for Christ — chosen as one of the seven original deacons, full of grace and power, until his courageous defense of the faith before the Sanhedrin so enraged his accusers that they dragged him out and stoned him. He died gazing upward into open heaven, asking forgiveness for his executioners — witnessed by a young man named Saul, who would become Saint Paul.