MSN: On the anniversary of Stephen Hawking's death โ€“ genius between cosmos and controversy On the anniversary of Stephen Hawking's death โ€“ genius between cosmos and controversy On this day, March 14, the scientific world not only commemorates one of the most significant physicists of the 20th and early 21st centuries, but also an extraordinary personality: Stephen Hawking. Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death, as told in Acts in the New Testament. He is regarded as the first Christian martyr.

Understanding the Context

Due to him, the name became common in the Christian world. It was popularized in England by the Normans. This was the name of kings of England, Serbia, and Poland, as well as ten popes.