Saint Stephen the Great (977-1038), also known as Stephen I, was the son of the Magyar chieftain Geza.
He ascended to the leadership in 997, following his father’s footsteps. A devout Christian since his youth, Stephen worked diligently to promote Christianity throughout his realm.
In 996, he married Gisela of Bavaria, the daughter of Duke Henry II, solidifying an alliance with the Christian states of Europe and further entrenching the faith within Hungary. As a ruler, Stephen fervently supported the Church, extending patronage to religious leaders and spearheading the construction of numerous churches across his lands.
But it was not just through peaceful means that Stephen spread Christianity. He decisively quashed pagan resistance, most notably suppressing a rebellion led by the so-called Black Hungarians. Their subsequent conversion cemented Christianity’s dominance in the region.
Pope Sylvester II recognized Stephen’s immense contributions to the Christian faith by anointing him King of Hungary in 1000, bestowing upon him the cross and crown that would become powerful symbols of the Hungarian nation.
Stephen’s reign was marked not only by his spiritual dedication but also by his efforts to consolidate the Christian presence in the region, fostering a strong, unified Hungary under the banner of the Christian faith.
After his death, Stephen’s legacy lived on through the veneration of his crown and regalia, which came to embody the spirit of the Hungarian nation.
His exemplary leadership and unwavering devotion to Christianity led to his canonization in 1083 by Pope St. Gregory VII. Saint Stephen the Great is now celebrated as the patron saint of Hungary, revered as the quintessential Christian monarch.
Photo credit: Andrija12345678 via Wikimedia Commons
, son of Magyar chieftain Géza, fervently promoted Christianity after becoming Hungary's first king in 997.){kind=link}
Interesting! So good to learn about the saints I know nothing about.
I was in Hungary many times and I visited the basilica of St. Stephen his right hand still intact and I do pray through his intersession and it was been granted… holy saints pray for us!!!
I believe St.Stephen the Great is also a relative of St. Margaret of Scotland..possibly an uncle. Our family was recently traced back to Margaret.
When i learn saints i envy the good qualities n try to emulate them to shape my life
St Stephen (Szt István ) is not the patron saint of Hungary. The Virgin Mary is Patrona Hungariae.
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Patron Saint.
St. Stephen the Great, pray for us.
Saint Stephen the Great, pray for us!
St. Stephen the Great, help us.
Saint Stephen the Great, pray for us amen