Stephen I

Who they were

Stephen, a Roman, was archdeacon of Pope Lucius I, who entrusted the Church to him before his death; he was bishop of Rome from 254 to 257. His most important work was the defence of the validity of baptism given by heretics, against St Cyprian and bishops of Africa and Asia who would have rebaptised; the Church upheld his teaching. He died on 2 August 257.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Stephen has been honoured as a saint since the early Church.

Why that counted as sanctity

Stephen defended the truth that baptism is Christ's act, not the minister's, and held the Church to it against great opposition.

Connected on this site

• Firmilian Saint
  “He took an active part in the mid-3rd century controversies over rebaptising heretics and readmitting lapsed Christians after the persecutions of Decius and was excommunicated by Pope Stephen I for his position.” — Wikipedia
• Gerard of Csanád Saint
  “Stephen I made him the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Csanád (encompassing present-day Banat in Serbia, Romania and Hungary) around 1030.” — Wikipedia
• Lucius I Saint
  “Stephen, a Roman, was archdeacon of Pope Lucius I, who entrusted the Church to him before his death; he was bishop of Rome from 254 to 257.” — this site's research