January 24, Saint Timothy, Bishop and Martyr

Life and Martyrdom of Saint Timothy

Saint Timothy was converted by the Apostle Paul during Paul's first missionary journey to Lystra, where Timothy lived with his devout Jewish mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, who had already instructed him in the Holy Scriptures. Seeing the young man's genuine faith and noble character—and witnessing the profound impression left by Paul's ministry and miraculous healing of a lame man in Lystra—Timothy embraced the Gospel and was baptized into the Church. He became one of Paul's most trusted companions and co-workers, eventually being chosen by Paul to assist in his apostolic labors and consecrated as the first Bishop of Ephesus. According to traditional accounts, when Timothy opposed a pagan procession in honor of Diana, he was stoned to death by an angry mob, receiving the crown of martyrdom.

Collect Prayer for the Feast of Saint Timothy, Bishop and Martyr

Look upon our weakness, Almighty God: 

and because we are weighed down under

 the burden of our own deeds, may the 

glorious intercession of blessed Timothy, 

Thy Bishop and Martyr, protect us. 

Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, 

Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

God forever and ever. Amen.

Header image: Gelder, Aert de. Lois and Timothy. 1684. Oil on canvas. Pushkin Museum, Moscow. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aert_de_Gelder_-_Lois_and_Timothy.jpg.

Video image: Daily, Valentine. Paul the Apostle Writes His Epistles in Prison. 1888. Engraving. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_the_Apostle_writes_his_epistles_in_prison.jpg.