{"product_id":"saint-stephen-medal-necklace","title":"Saint Stephen Medal Necklace – Patron Saint of Deacons \u0026 Stonemasons","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaint Stephen, Patron Saint of Deacons and Stonemasons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStephen was one of the seven deacons appointed by the apostles to care for the poor in the early Jerusalem church. Known for his preaching and reported miracles, he was brought before the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy after his teaching provoked local synagogues. His defense before the council, recounting Israelite history and declaring that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, enraged his judges, and he was dragged outside the city and stoned to death around 34 AD, making him Christianity's first martyr. A young Pharisee named Saul, later Paul, witnessed and approved of the killing. Stephen is honored today as patron of deacons, altar servers, bricklayers, and masons, the same stones that killed him now understood as the material of their trade, turned toward building rather than destruction. He's also traditionally invoked against headaches, and known across the world by names like Saint Étienne in French, San Esteban in Spanish, and Santo Stefano in Italian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Gift For...\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA deacon, or someone preparing for the diaconate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn altar server, or a family celebrating one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBricklayers, masons, and construction workers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who serves the Church in a role that isn't always visible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA person who spoke a hard truth knowing it would cost them\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomeone who suffers from chronic headaches or migraines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Confirmation Gift for Stephen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGive Stephen's medal to a confirmation candidate training as an altar server, or one who's simply drawn to a saint who served before he ever became famous for anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Saint Stephen Medal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe medal shows Stephen haloed, in a deacon's dalmatic marked with a cross, holding a martyr's palm and three stones. The natural gold or silver of the metal forms the illustration itself. Black ink is applied to the pendant surface and the metal shows through as the image. A shatterproof liquid glass coating seals the surface. The result has a depth and precision that printed medals don't achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePersonalization and Engraving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReverse engraving available in Tangerine cursive, 2 lines, 20 characters max each. Well-suited pairings: an ordination or installation date with \"Served First,\" or a name paired with \"First to Stand.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSaint Stephen's feast day is December 26th\u003c\/b\u003e, the day after Christmas, a quiet reminder that the Church's joy and its cost have always stood close together. He served as a deacon before he was ever known as a martyr.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sanctum Medals","offers":[{"title":"Stainless Steel \/ No","offer_id":53709553893712,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Stainless Steel \/ Yes","offer_id":53709553926480,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"18k Gold Finish \/ No","offer_id":53709553959248,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"18k Gold Finish \/ Yes","offer_id":53709553992016,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/7852\/6032\/files\/Saint-Stephen-Medal-Gold-frontview.jpg?v=1790608691","url":"https:\/\/sanctummedals.com\/products\/saint-stephen-medal-necklace","provider":"Sanctum Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}