A witness and one of the initiators of this event was a certain Saul from Tarsus – a Jewish Pharisee, who was tasked with finding the supporters of Christ among Jews. As we know in time he became one of the most important preachers of the new teachings, whom we know as a converted Christian named Paul. The background of this drama was a conflict between Israelites who remained faithful to Talmudic Law and the tradition of circumcision, and those, known as Hellenists (sine Greek was for most of them an everyday language), who professed faith in Christ and who more and more often were referred to as Christians.

The cult of St. Stephen developed in Rome as it did throughout the Christian world, after the miraculous discovery of his earthly remains in the year 415 in Jerusalem, from where they was brought to Constantinople. In the middle of the V century a wealthy matron Demetria from the Anicia family built the Church of San Stefano Protomartire at via Latina, dedicated to him in the area which she owned, and which was a few kilometers away from Rome. Another place of the cult of the martyr was the magnificent Church of San Stefano Rotondo erected during the pontificate of Simplicius   (468-483). Still today we do not know who ordered its construction, but it is assumed that it may have been Emperor Valentinian III.

However, that is not all. Around the year 560, the relics of St. Stephen started to appear in large numbers in the Mediterranean Basin and reached Rome. They were placed in the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls (San Lorenzo fuori le mura), a place dedicated to another, this time Roman deacon – Saint Lawrence. Still today in the triumphal arch of the church there is a magnificent mosaic depicting both the saints. In this way two young advocates of the poor and needy, who were part of a group of the first martyrs, became, next to saints Peter and Paul, the most venerated patrons of the city.

The cult of St. Stephen was alive and well throughout the Middle Ages, which is evidenced by preserved until today, although in a modernized form, church from the VIII century- the Santo Stefano del Cacco (in the past Santo Stefano de Pinea). Another place of cult of the saint in the city on the Tiber was the ancient Temple of Hercules in the area of Forum Boarium, which maintained its current form only thanks to the fact, that in early Middle Ages it became a church dedicated to St. Stephen. It was not until the XVII century that the dedication was changed to Santa Maria del Sole.

In visual arts, Stephen is depicted as a young deacon with a palm in his hand, or a gospel on which (or next to which) there are stones. Therefore, just as was the case with Lawrence, the tool of his martyrdom became an attribute of the saint. In addition Stephen was venerated as a patron of stonemasons, masons, but also coachmen, masters of horses as well as an intercessor of a good death. In modern art the scene that was shown most often was his martyrdom. The most beautiful paiting cycle devoted to both him as well as. St. Lawrence, is located in the former palace rooms on the Vatican (Apostolic Palace), in a chapel built during the pontificate of Nicholas V (Cappella Niccolina).  In the middle of the XV century it was created at the commission of the aforementioned pope by the outstanding Fra Angelico.