The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42473   Message #618385
Posted By: GUEST
29-Dec-01 - 11:00 PM
Thread Name: Help: Saint Stephens Day
Subject: RE: Help: Saint Stephens Day
toadfrog,

Different Stephen, according to Catholic Online's saints page. Here is yours:

St. Stephen the Great b.977 d.1038 Feastday: August 16 Patron of Hungary

St. Stephen the Great (977-1038), was the son of the Magyar chieftain Geza, Stephen succeeded him as leader in 997. Already raised a Christian, in 996 he wed the daughter of Duke Henry II of Bavaria and devoted much of his reign to the promotion of the Christian faith. He gave his patronage to Church leaders, helped build churches, and was a proponent of the rights of the Holy See. Stephen also crushed the pagan counterreaction to Christianity, forcibly converting the so-called Black Hungarians after their failed rebellion. In recognition of his efforts, Stephen was anoited king of Hungary in 1000, receiving the cross and crown from Pope Sylvester II. The remainder of his reign was taken up with the consolidation of the Christian hold on the region. His crown and regalia became beloved symbols of the Hungarian nation, and Stephen was venerated as the ideal Christian king. Canonized in 1083 by Pope St. Gregory VII, he became the patron saint of Hungary.

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