From the Prologue of Ochrid
Stephen was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul, and a Jew of those Jews who lived in Hellenic regions. Stephen was the first of the seven deacons whom the holy apostles ordained and appointed to the ministry of helping the poor in Jerusalem. Therefore Stephen is called archdeacon. By the power of his faith Stephen performed great miracles among the people. The malicious Jews disputed with Stephen, but they were always defeated by his wisdom and the power of the Spirit who worked through Stephen. Then the shamed Jews, accustomed to slanders and calumnies, stirred up both the people and the elders of the people against innocent Stephen, slandering Stephen as though he had blasphemed against God and against Moses. They quickly found false witnesses who confirmed this. Then Stephen stood before the people, and all saw his face "as it had been the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15), that is, his face was illumined with gracious light as once Moses' was when Moses spoke with God. And Stephen opened his mouth and recounted many good works and miracles of God which God had done in the past for the people of Israel, as well as many crimes and opposition to God on the part of that people. Especially Stephen denounced them for the murder of Christ the Lord, calling them "betrayers and murderers" (Acts 7:52). And while they gnashed their teeth, Stephen looked and saw heaven opened and the glory of God. And what Stephen saw, Stephen announced to the Jews: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Then the evildoers led Stephen outside the city and killed him with stones. Among his torturers was his kinsman Saul, later the Apostle Paul. At that time the Most Holy Theotokos with Saint John the Theologian stood in the distance on a certain stone and watched the martyrdom of this first martyr for the truth of her Son and God, praying to God for Stephen. This happened one year after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. The body of Saint Stephen was secretly taken and buried on his estate by Gamaliel, a Jewish prince and secret Christian. Thus gloriously died this firstfruits among Christian martyrs and passed into the Kingdom of Christ God.
