Name day
Stephen: Name Day and Patron Saint
Stephen keeps the name day on 27 December, or 9 January on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Stephen the First Martyr.
- Patron saint
- St Stephen the First Martyr
- New Calendar
- 27 December
- Old Calendar
- 9 January
- Next name day
- 27 December 2026 (New Calendar) · 9 January 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of December · The feasts of January
The patron saint: St Stephen the First Martyr
Kept on 27 December, or 9 January on the Old Calendar · Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
St Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons whom the apostles themselves appointed in Jerusalem to care for the widows, the orphans and the poor, and so the Church calls him archdeacon. Full of the Holy Spirit, he preached Christ boldly, worked signs among the people, and the teachers of the Law could not withstand the wisdom with which he spoke. False witnesses accused him of speaking against God and Moses, and he was brought before the Sanhedrin. There he told the whole story of Israel and charged his judges with resisting God as their fathers had resisted the prophets. Then he saw the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The council dragged him out of the city and stoned him, while a young man named Saul, the future Apostle Paul, looked on and approved. Stephen died praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and asked the Lord not to hold this sin against his killers. He was about thirty years old, the first to give his life for Christ. The teacher Gamaliel and his son secretly buried him, and both later came to believe and were baptized. His relics were found in 415 and later brought to Constantinople. The Church keeps his memory on 27 December (9 January on the Old Calendar), the third day of the Nativity. The faithful ask his prayers for repentance, and for the grace to forgive as he forgave.
What the faithful pray for
- the grace to forgive those who wrong us
- courage to confess Christ before others
- repentance and the forgiveness of sins
- deacons and all who serve the poor
- steadfast faith in times of trial
Other saints named Stephen
St Stephen of Perm
Kept on 26 April, or 9 May on the Old Calendar · St Stephen, Bishop of Perm
The missionary who gave the Komi people an alphabet and the Gospel in their tongue.
St Stefan of Dečani
Kept on 11 November, or 24 November on the Old Calendar · Holy Great Martyr Stefan of Dečani, King of Serbia
The king of Serbia who built the monastery of Dečani and died a martyr.
St Stephen the Great of Moldavia
Kept on 2 July, or 15 July on the Old Calendar · Right-believing Voivode Stephen the Great
The prince of Moldavia who built a church after each of his battles.
Stephen in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Stephen, Steven, Stefan, Stephan, Esteban, Étienne, Stefano, Stepan, Stefanos, Stevan, Steffen | Steve, Stevie, Stef |
| Greek | Στέφανος, Stefanos | Στέφος |
| Russian | Стефан, Степан, Stefan, Stepan | Стёпа, Styopa, Stepa |
| Ukrainian | Степан, Stepan | |
| Bulgarian | Стефан, Stefan | |
| Serbian | Стефан, Стеван, Stefan, Stevan | Стева, Steva, Stevo |
| Romanian | Ștefan | Fănel, Ștefănel |
| Georgian | სტეფანე, Stepane | |
| Arabic | اسطفان, Estephan, Stephan, Istifan, Estefan | |
| Spanish | Esteban | |
| Italian | Stefano | |
| French | Étienne | |
| Polish | Szczepan |
An icon for Stephen
We don't carry an icon of St Stephen the First Martyr yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychSt Mark the Apostle & Guardian Angel
Another apostle$99$69
Folding diptychSt Matthew the Apostle & Guardian Angel
Another apostle$99$69
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
Christ and the Mother of God keep every Christian home$99$69
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Stephen
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Other names with this saint
Questions
When is Stephen’s name day?
Stephen keeps the name day on 27 December on the New Calendar and on 9 January on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Stephen the First Martyr.
Who is the patron saint of Stephen?
St Stephen the First Martyr. St Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons whom the apostles themselves appointed in Jerusalem to care for the widows, the orphans and the poor, and so the Church calls him archdeacon.
How is Stephen written in other languages?
Greek: Στέφανος (Stefanos), Russian: Стефан (Stefan), Ukrainian: Степан (Stepan), Bulgarian: Стефан (Stefan), Serbian: Стефан (Stefan) and Romanian: Ștefan. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Stephen?
We don’t carry an icon of St Stephen the First Martyr yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name