Holy Apostle Timothy

Life

Timothy was one of the Seventy Apostles. Born in Lystra of Lycaonia of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. The Apostle Paul praises his mother and grandmother for their unfeigned faith (2 Timothy 1:4-5). In Lystra Timothy met the great Apostle for the first time, and was himself a witness when Paul healed a man lame from birth. Later Timothy was almost a constant companion of Paul, traveling with him through Achaia, Macedonia, Italy and Spain. A great zealot of the faith, an excellent preacher and sweet of soul, Timothy contributed greatly to the spread and establishment of the Christian faith. Paul calls him a true son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2). After Paul's martyric death, Timothy had Saint John the Evangelist as his teacher. But when Emperor Domitian banished him from Ephesus to the island of Patmos, Timothy remained in Ephesus to serve as bishop. During a certain pagan feast called Catagogium, the pagans, enraged at the Christians, treacherously and in masks attacked Timothy and killed him (around the year 93). His holy relics were later transferred to Constantinople and buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, beside the grave of Saint Luke the Evangelist and Saint Andrew the First-Called.

From the Hymn of Praise

Holy Apostles, warmed by the Spirit,Spiritual athletes, illumined by the Spirit,By Christ's victory they conquered the world,They conquered the world, established the Church.