Why the Martyrdom of St. Stephen is Still Relevant Almost 2,000 Years Later
The persecution of Christians is worse now than at any time in history. According to some estimates, every five minutes, a Christian is martyred for his faith. More and more, those who believe in Christ are endangered, singled out for hate and systematic genocide. Worldwide, Christians have experienced more persecution in the last five years than in the previous six hundred years combined. Those in the West are besieged by a militant secularism that is openly hostile to Christianity. With the astonishing escalation in Christian persecution unseen seen since the 1st century, the heroic death of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, after nearly two millennia, speaks to the Church today. Art critic William Newton, writing for The Federalist , considers several interesting works of art that tell the story of St. Stephen, in " Saint Stephen’s Day Is A Moment To Reflect On Our Witness And Immortality ". The works span much of the so called "Dark Ages", and refl