Which Catholic saint is traditionally regarded as the first Christian martyr?

Saint Stephen is traditionally regarded as the first Christian martyr.

The Acts of the Apostles describes Stephen as one of seven men chosen to assist the early Christian community in Jerusalem. He is portrayed as a powerful preacher whose opponents accused him of speaking against Moses and the Temple.

According to Acts, Stephen was taken outside Jerusalem and stoned to death. The account places his death soon after the resurrection of Jesus, although the exact historical date is unknown. Stephen’s speech before the council is one of the longest speeches recorded in Acts.

Stephen is often confused with later martyrs such as Saint Lawrence, who was a third-century Roman deacon. In Christian art, Stephen commonly appears with stones, a palm branch, or the deacon’s vestments. His feast is celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church.