The Holy Disciple Timothy
Commemorated on January 22
The Holy Disciple
Timothy was from the Lycaonian city of Lystra in Asia Minor. Saint Timothy
was converted to Christ in the year 52 by the holy Apostle Paul (+ c. 67, Comm.
29 June). When the Apostle Paul and Barnabas first visited the Lycaonian
cities, the Apostle Paul at Lystra healed one crippled from birth; many of the
inhabitants there then believed in Christ, and among them was the future
youthful disciple Timothy, his mother Eunice and grandmother Loida (Lois) (Acts
14: 6-12; 2 Tim. 1: 5). The seed of faith, planted in the soul of Saint Timothy
by the Apostle Paul, brought forth abundant fruit. He became a zealous student
of the Apostle Paul, and later his constant companion and co-worker in the
preaching of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul loved Saint Timothy and in his
Epistles called him his beloved son, with gratitude remembering his devotion and
fidelity. He wrote to Timothy: "Thou hast followed me in teaching, in
life, in disposition, faith, magnanimity, love, and patience in afflictions and
sufferings..." (2 Tim. 3: 10-11). The Apostle Paul in the year 65 ordained
Saint Timothy as bishop of the Ephesus Church, which the saint administered for
15 years. And finally the holy Apostle Paul, situated in prison and knowing,
that the act of martyrdom was before him, summoned his faithful student and
friend, the Disciple Timothy, for a last farewell (2 Tim. 4: 9).
Saint Timothy ended
his life as a martyr. At Ephesus the pagans made a feastday in honour of their
idols and they carried them through the city, accompanied by impious ceremonies
and songs. The holy Bishop Timothy, zealous for the glory of God, attempted to
halt the procession and reason with the spiritually blind idol-worshipping
people, by preaching the true faith in Christ. The pagans dashed angrily upon
the holy disciple, they beat him, dragged him along the ground, and finally,
they stoned him. The holy Disciple Timothy's death by martyrdom occurred in the
year 80. In the IV Century the holy relics of the Disciple Timothy were
transferred to Constantinople and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles.
Holy Church venerates Saint Timothy as amongst the number of the Seventy
Disciples.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
