In the Orthodox Church, December 26th is St. Stephen’s day. Why it is the day after Christmas is dedicated to Stephen? What is the connection between Stephen the Martyr and Christmas?
While the Bible depicts Stephen as a practical man (he was appointed as one of the first deacons of the church), he was also “full of grace and power,” and he did “great signs and wonders among the people” (Acts 6:6). As he was being stoned, he was able to gaze into heaven and see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. While other apostles saw Jesus ascend, none before Stephen had seen him standing at God’s right hand. Why is Stephen’s experience different from the other apostles?
The answer is simple: Martyrdom. As Stephen is facing imminent death, he is able to grasp the truth that his life is not his own, that he belongs to Christ, and that he is not of this world. By faith, Stephen could see that as he was departing from this world he was entering his true home.
This is where Christmas ties in. When Christ came to earth, he came with a purpose – to open the door to eternal life to all who believe. Christmas would not be a day to be celebrated if it did not lead to Easter. Stephen recognized that the door had been opened, and he was prepared to walk through it. That door also stands open for us today.
This Christmas, let’s be like Stephen. Let’s fix our attention – by faith – on Christ and the eternal life that he secured for us on the cross. This is why Christ came!