The Catholic Church, today, celebrates the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, close companions of Saint Paul (Paul's conversion is celebrated on the previous day, January 25). They were also bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days.

Both men received letters from Saint Paul, which are included in the New Testament.

Pope Benedict XVI discussed these early bishops during a general audience on Dec. 13, 2006, noting “their readiness to take on various offices” in “far from easy” circumstances. Both saints, the Pope said, “teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity, realizing that this also entails a service to the Church herself.”

Saint Timothy
Timothy was from the Lycaonian city of Lystra in Asia Minor. When the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas first visited the cities of Lycaonia, Paul healed one crippled from birth. Many of the inhabitants of Lystra then believed in Christ, and among them was the future Saint, Timothy, his mother Eunice and grandmother Loida (Lois) (Acts 14:6-12; 2 Tim. 1:5).

The seed of faith, planted in Timothy’s soul by the Apostle Paul, brought forth abundant fruit. He became Paul’s disciple, and later his constant companion and co-worker in the preaching of the Gospel. Paul loved Saint Timothy and, in his Epistles, called him his beloved son, remembering his devotion and fidelity with gratitude.

He wrote to Timothy: “You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and patience” (2 Tim. 3:10-11). Paul appointed Timothy as the Bishop of Ephesus, where the saint remained for fifteen years. Finally, when Paul was in prison and awaiting martyrdom, he summoned his faithful friend, Timothy, for a last farewell (2 Tim. 4:9).

Timothy gave up his life as a martyr. The pagans of Ephesus celebrated a festival in honor of their idols, and used to carry them through the city, accompanied by impious ceremonies and songs. 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 angry pagans, beat Timothy, dragged him along the ground, and finally stoned him. Timothy’s martyrdom occurred in the year 93.

In the fourth century the holy relics of Saint Timothy were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles near the tombs of Saint Andrew and Saint Luke.

In Russian practice, the back of a priest’s cross is often inscribed with Saint Paul’s words to Timothy: “Be an example to the believers in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).

Saint Titus
Saint Titus, was a native of the island of Crete, the son of an illustrious pagan. In his youth he studied Hellenistic philosophy and the ancient poets. Preoccupied by the sciences, Titus led a virtuous life, not devoting himself to the vices and passions characteristic of the majority of pagans.

For such a manner of life the Lord did not leave him without His help. At age of twenty, Saint Titus heard a voice in a dream, suggesting that he abandon Hellenistic wisdom, which could not provide salvation for his soul, but rather to seek that which would save him. After this dream, Saint Titus waited yet another year, since it was not actually a command, but it did guide him to familiarize himself with the teachings of the prophets of God. The first that he happened to read was the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Having opened it to the 47th Chapter, he was struck by the words, speaking as it were about his own spiritual condition.

Titus journeyed to Jerusalem and witnessed the preaching of Christ during the Lord’s ministry on earth. Only later, however – after the conversion of Saint Paul and the beginning of his ministry – did Titus receive baptism from the apostle, who called the pagan convert his “true child in our common faith.”

On the day of Pentecost the future apostle heard how the Twelve Apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, spoke in various languages, among which was the Cretan language (Acts 2: 11).

Titus accompanied Saint Paul on his missionary journeys, fulfilling the tasks entrusted to him. He was involved in establishing new churches and was with Paul in Jerusalem.

Saint Titus was made the Bishop of Crete by Saint Paul. Around the year 65, not long before his second imprisonment, Saint Paul sent a pastoral epistle to his son in the Faith (Tit. 1: 4).

When Paul was taken like a criminal to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, Saint Titus left his flock in Crete for a time and went to Rome to be of service to his spiritual Father. After Saint Paul’s death by martyrdom, Titus returned to Gortyna, the chief city of Crete.

Titus peacefully guided his flock and toiled at enlightening the pagans with the light of faith in Christ. He was granted the gift of wonderworking by the Lord. During one of the pagan feasts in honor of the goddess Diana, Titus preached to a crowd of pagans.

When he saw that they would not listen to him, he prayed to the Lord, so that the Lord Himself would show to the mistaken people the falseness of idols. Tradition attests that by the prayer of Titus, the idol of Diana fell down and shattered before the eyes of all. Another time he prayed that the Lord would not permit the completion of a temple of Zeus, and it collapsed.

By such miracles Titus brought many to faith in Christ. After bringing the light of faith to the surrounding regions, Titus died peacefully at the age of 97. At the time of his death, his face shone like the sun.
-OCA

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Robert of Molesme
2. Saint Alberic of Citeaux
3. Saint Paula of Rome
4. Saint Ausilius of Fréjus
5. Saint Theogenes of Hippo

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