Sts. Timothy and Titus

Sts. Timothy and Titus were the beloved disciples and fellow-workers of the Apostle Paul, to each of whom he addressed one of the pastoral letters of the New Testament, and the Church honors them together on the day after the feast of Paul's conversion. Both were entrusted by the Apostle with the care of young churches and stand as models of the bishops and pastors who would shepherd the flock after the apostolic age.

Timothy, born at Lystra of a Greek father and a devout Jewish mother, became Paul's closest companion, sharing his journeys and imprisonments, and was set over the church of Ephesus, where tradition holds he was martyred for opposing a pagan festival. Titus, a Gentile convert whom Paul called his true child in the faith, served as his trusted emissary and was left to organize the church on the island of Crete, where he labored as its first bishop and died in peace at a great age. Faithful stewards of the Gospel, they are celebrated together on 26 January.