CHAPTER XVI

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THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM.

Testimony of Church of Lyons to St. Stephen's Martyrdom-- Earliest Celtic Martyrdoms and Celtic Assemblies-- Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day--Christmas Season and Three Classes of Martyrs--Dies Natalis and the Liturgies--Immediate Cause of St. Stephen's Death-- Locality of the Martyrdom--Newly-discovered Church of St. Stephen--Survey of Western Palestine-- Jewish Stonings--St. Stephen died under Forms of Law--Christianity and Human Law--Testimony of St. Clement's Epistle--St. Stephen and Prayer to Jesus Christ--Doctrine of Book of Common Prayer--St. Stephen's Funeral--Early Christian View of Resurrection--Story told by John Malalas--Persecution and Church Extension 322-345

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