martyrdom. Items like the axe, a falchion, or a cross can be used. A saw might also be shown, as it was thought that Simon was cut in two.

STEPHEN – (died 35 A.D.) – Stephen was an appointed deacon in the church and would be Christianity’s first martyr. He would be drug outside the city and stoned, with Saul (before his conversion) watching with great interest and satisfaction. 1. Stephen is symbolized
by a cloak and stones, symbols of his martyrdom.

THOMAS (1st century) – Thomas, also called Dydimus, was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was known as “doubting Thomas” because he did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead; he would eventually
have his doubts answered (John 20:24-29). After Pentecost, little is known of Thomas, although several apocryphal works like the Gospel of Thomas bear his name. Tradition tells us that he preached to the Parthians, the Medes, the Perisans, the Hircanians, and the Bactrains. Tradition goes on to tell us that Jesus specifically
called Thomas to go to India to build a palace for a certain king there. Thomas obeyed and over the several years it took Thomas to build the palace, he led thousands to Christ, including the King’s wife. The king was furious and tried several times to kill the apostle. None of these attempts succeeded. So, Thomas was commanded to bow to a statue of the god of the sun. Thomas said that it was only an idol