The feast of St. Stephen dates back to the greatest antiquity. It is already mentioned at the end of the 3rd century, but was well established by then. His Octave, though not as old, is already referenced in the 9th century!
"But how comes it that the Feast of a mere Deacon has been thus honored, whilst almost all those of the Apostles have no Octave? The rule followed by the Church in her Liturgy is to give more or less solemnity to the Feast of the Saints, according to the importance of the services they rendered to mankind. . . . St. Stephen led the way to Martyrdom; his example inaugurated that sublime witnessing by shedding one's own blood, which is the very strength of the Church, ratifies the truths she teaches to the world, and confirms the hopes of eternal reward promised by those truths. Glory, then, and honour to the Prince of Martyrs!"
The Liturgical Year, Volume 2 by Dom Gueranger
St. Stephen, pray for us!
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