Apostle Timothy of the Seventy

1st century (martyred c. 93-97)

Also known as Timothy of Ephesus

A disciple and beloved fellow-laborer of the Apostle Paul, who made him first bishop of Ephesus; he is invoked for ailments of the stomach, which St. Paul counseled him to tend.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, Bishop of Ephesus

Come to them for

Healing

Life

Timothy was a disciple and close companion of the Apostle Paul and is numbered among the Seventy Apostles. Born at Lystra in Lycaonia in Asia Minor, he was raised by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois and was converted through Paul's preaching, after which he became one of the apostle's most trusted fellow-laborers.

Paul appointed him the first bishop of Ephesus, and two of the New Testament epistles, First and Second Timothy, are addressed to him. According to tradition he was martyred at Ephesus while trying to halt a pagan festival, and his relics were later carried to Constantinople. He is commemorated on January 22, and is invoked against ailments of the stomach, recalling Paul's counsel to him.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 1

Let us the faithful praise the Holy Apostle Timothy,
the companion of Paul in his travels and together with him
let us honor the wise Anastasius, who came as a star from Persia
for the healing of the passions of our souls and the diseases of our bodies.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,
you were arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest.
From the chosen Vessel you drew ineffable mysteries;
you kept the faith, and finished a course equal to His.
Bishop martyr Timothy, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline6 momentsReadHide

1st centuryBirth at LystraBorn in Lystra in Lycaonia, Asia Minor, to a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice; his grandmother Lois is also remembered for her piety.
c. AD 52Conversion and callConverted through the Apostle Paul during Paul's missionary work at Lystra, and joined him as a missionary companion alongside Silas.
AD 52-58Missionary journeysTraveled widely with Paul through Macedonia, Thessalonica, Corinth and other regions, becoming one of his most devoted co-workers.
1st centuryBishop of EphesusAppointed by Paul as the first bishop of Ephesus, where by the synaxarion's account he served for fifteen years.
c. 93-97Martyrdom at EphesusAttempting to halt a pagan procession by preaching the Gospel, he was set upon by the crowd, beaten, dragged, and stoned to death.
4th centuryTranslation of relicsHis relics were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, near the tombs of the Apostles Andrew and Luke.

Contributions & Legacy

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Family and Conversion

Timothy was born at Lystra in Lycaonia in Asia Minor. His mother, Eunice, was Jewish and became a believer, and his father was Greek; his grandmother Lois is likewise remembered for her faith, and Timothy is said to have known the Scriptures from childhood. He was converted through the preaching of the Apostle Paul around the year 52, when, according to the synaxarion, Paul's healing of a man crippled from birth at Lystra led many of the townspeople, including Timothy's family, to embrace Christ.

Timothy became Paul's disciple and constant companion. Paul circumcised him so that he would be acceptable to the Jews among whom they worked, and afterward Timothy accompanied the apostle on his journeys, sharing in his labors and sufferings. Paul's affection for him is reflected in the New Testament, where he is described as a uniquely trusted helper.

Ministry and Episcopate at Ephesus

Between about AD 52 and 58 Timothy traveled with Paul through Macedonia, Thessalonica, Corinth, and other regions. Paul subsequently appointed him the first bishop of Ephesus to govern that church; by the synaxarion's account he held the see for fifteen years.

Two letters of the New Testament, the First and Second Epistles to Timothy, are addressed to him and give counsel on the ordering and leadership of the Church. In one of these Paul advises him to take a little wine for the sake of his stomach and his frequent infirmities, a passage from which his patronage against ailments of the stomach derives.

Martyrdom and Relics

According to tradition, Timothy met his death at Ephesus when he tried to stop a pagan festival in which idols were carried through the city with songs and ceremonies. Preaching the faith of Christ to the crowd, he was attacked, beaten, dragged along the ground, and stoned. The sources place his martyrdom in the 90s, the OCA giving the year 93 and other accounts around 97.

In the fourth century his relics were brought to Constantinople and laid in the Church of the Holy Apostles, near those of the Apostles Andrew and Luke. He is honored as one of the Seventy Apostles, and is commemorated on January 22.

Member ofReadHide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Companions9 figuresShowHide

His spiritual father and companion, who converted him, took him on his missionary journeys, appointed him bishop of Ephesus, and addressed two epistles to him.

Apostle Paul

Apostle and Evangelist whose relics were laid near Timothy's in the Church of the Holy Apostles at Constantinople.

Apostle & Evangelist Luke

Apostle whose relics rested near Timothy's in the Church of the Holy Apostles at Constantinople.

Apostle Andrewthe First-Called

Fellow co-worker of Paul: like Timothy, a trusted delegate and disciple of the Apostle Paul, appointed bishop and addressed in a pastoral epistle of the New Testament.

Apostle Titusof the Seventy