Rediscovering the Forgotten Saints: Stephen, Wenceslas, and Agnes on the Feast of Stephen

In our fast-paced world, many treasures of Christian history lie buried under layers of time and cultural shift. Today, on the Feast of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr—December 27 according to the Julian calendar observed in the Orthodox Church—we turn our gaze to three holy figures whose lives and legacies deserve to be lifted from obscurity: Saints Stephen, Wenceslas, and Agnes. While popular carols and fleeting mentions may keep their names alive in the West, their full stories as venerated in the Orthodox Tradition often remain forgotten. Let us explore their enduring witness, drawing from the Church's sacred memory, to inspire our own walk in faith.

Saint Stephen the Protomartyr: The First to Shed Blood for Christ

Saint Stephen, whose feast we celebrate today, was the first deacon of the Church and its first martyr. Chosen among the seven deacons in Acts 6 to serve the widows and the poor in the early Christian community in Jerusalem, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, performing great wonders and signs. His bold proclamation of Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets enraged the Sanhedrin, leading to his stoning around AD 34-35.

What is often forgotten is Stephen's profound theological insight in his final speech (Acts 7), where he recounts salvation history from Abraham to Solomon, culminating in a vision of the heavens opened and Christ standing at the right hand of God. This not only echoes the Psalms but prefigures the Church's liturgical life, where deacons continue to serve at the altar. In Orthodox iconography, he is depicted holding stones or a censer, reminding us of his dual role as servant and witness. His intercession is sought for headaches and steadfast faith amid persecution—a timely reminder in an age of subtle spiritual trials.

Saint Wenceslas: From Duke to Passion-Bearer, Beyond the Carol

Many know "Good King Wenceslas" from the beloved 19th-century English carol, which paints a picturesque scene of a benevolent ruler braving the snow on the Feast of Stephen to aid a poor peasant. Yet this Victorian tale, penned by John Mason Neale, draws loosely from the real life of Saint Václav (Wenceslas), Duke of Bohemia, whose historical depth is largely forgotten.

Born around AD 907 to a Christian family amid the Christianization of the Slavs, Wenceslas was raised by his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, after his father's death. He ascended as duke in 921, promoting the Church by building cathedrals like Saint Vitus in Prague and translating Scriptures into Slavonic. His piety clashed with pagan factions and his power-hungry brother Boleslav, who orchestrated his murder on September 28, 935 (Julian: September 28/October 11). Stabbed at the church door while grasping the handle—symbolizing his clinging to Christ—Wenceslas forgave his killers, echoing our Lord's words.

In Orthodox Tradition, he is venerated as a passion-bearer and righteous ruler, not merely a "good king." His relics in Prague continue to draw pilgrims, and his feast reminds us of the cost of Christian leadership. The carol's "forgotten" element? It fictionalizes a specific act of charity, but Wenceslas's real legacy is his martyrdom for the faith, inspiring Slavic Orthodoxy and even the Czech national identity.

Saint Agnes of Rome: Virgin-Martyr of Unyielding Purity

Often overshadowed in modern times, Saint Agnes (from the Greek "hagnē," meaning pure) was a young Roman virgin-martyr whose story exemplifies unwavering devotion amid pagan oppression. Born to nobility around AD 291, she consecrated herself to Christ at a tender age, rejecting suitors and the idols of Rome. During the Diocletian persecution in 304, at just 12 or 13 years old, she was denounced, tortured, and beheaded for refusing to renounce her faith or marry.

Forgotten details abound: Miracles surrounded her martyrdom—her hair grew to cover her nakedness when stripped, and angels appeared at her grave. Buried on the Via Nomentana, her tomb became a pilgrimage site, with lambs blessed there providing wool for papal palliums. In Orthodox hymnody, she is praised alongside other virgin-martyrs like Barbara and Catherine, her feast on January 21 (Julian: January 21/February 3) emphasizing purity as a path to theosis. Though venerated in both East and West as a pre-schism saint, her Roman roots and courageous stand against imperial idolatry are less recalled today, yet they speak powerfully to defending faith in a secular age.

These saints, united in their witness to Christ, call us to remember that true history is salvation history. On this bright feast, as we sing troparia and kontakia in our temples, let us renounce the distractions of the world and proclaim Christ and His Church. Saints Stephen, Wenceslas, and Agnes, pray to God for us sinners!

Through the intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the saints, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.