Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert E. Barron marked the feast day of St. Stephen of Hungary recently.

“St. Stephen of Hungary, pray for us!” Barron said in an Aug. 16 tweet. 

St. Stephen was born in Hungary circa the year 970, a Britannica report said. Though born a pagan, he was baptized as a child and brought up as a Christian. In his 20s, he married Gisela, who was the daughter of Duke Henry II of Bavaria and the sister of Henry II, the future Holy Roman Emperor. After Stephen's father died, he battled an insurrection and was then crowned the first king of Hungary. Stephen is considered the founder of Hungary. 

St. Stephen spent his time as a ruler promoting the Christian faith throughout Hungary, supporting Church leaders and the construction of churches; a Catholic.org report said. He is the patron saint of Hungary, and Catholics celebrate his feast day each year on Aug. 16. 

As part of his work to support the construction of churches and aiding the poor, St. Stephen established a tithing system throughout Hungary; Franciscan Media said. He selected one town out of every 10 to construct a church and support a priest. His strategy in promoting Christianity also included confronting paganism in his country.