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Icons of St. Stephen, King of
Hungary (+ 1038)
Feast: Sept. 2
Stephen was baptised, with his
father, by St. Adalbert of Prague, in 985. He changed his pagan name
Vaik to Stephen. In 997 he became King of Hungary. Obtaining various
powers from Pope Sylvester II of Old Rome to establish churches, he
turned Hungary from the darkness of heathenism to the light of Christ's
gentle gospel. St. Stephen founded a monastery at Jerusalem and hostels
for pilgrims at Rome, Ravenna, and Constantinople. He was a friend of
St. Bruno and pen-pal of St. Odilo of Cluny. He died in 1038 on Sept. 2
and was buried at Stuhlweissenburg. In Hungary his principal feast is,
however, kept on Aug. 20, the day his sacred relics were translated to
Buda. His right hand, which God has blessed with incorruption to this
day, is revered as Hungary's most sacred relic. O Holy Royal Stephen,
pray to God for us!
Top icon:
by the hand of Ladislav Nemeth
Next Icon:
by the hand of iconographer Marice in France
Next icon: Thanks to Raymond
Mastroberte for the addition of this image. From www.worldandi.com.
Beneath the Icons: a picture of the incorrupt hand of King St. Stephen.
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