Not far from the city of Thebes, Timothy lived in Egypt. He belonged to a Christian community and was a deeply religious man. His ministry consisted of collecting, storing and reading theological books, and then sharing them with community members. When Emperor Diocletian ascended the throne, he ordered all Christian books to be burned. The ruler of that region, the Arians, summoned Timothy and asked him what he was doing. Timothy answered without conceal, to which the governor demanded that all the books be handed over. Timothy refused. He also said it was impossible for him to worship pagan gods. Ariane became enraged and ordered Timothy to prick his eardrums. He fired 2 iron bars and stuck the martyr in his ears. He’s blind.
They laughed at him and said, “Look where your faith has led you.” But Timothy said that he saw the Lord with his eyes, and the eyes of the earth saw too much evil to regret.
Timothy was thrown into prison and tried to influence him through his wife, Mavra. Only 20 days have passed since their wedding, and now Mavra is visiting her husband in prison. At first, she tried to persuade Timothy to accept, but after talking with her husband, she was filled with courage.
And she declared herself a Christian.
She was tortured, too. Cut their hair, broke their fingers. They put them in a hot water boiler. God gave her the strength to endure all the torments. In the boiling water she remained unharmed, but when Arian came too close and the water fell on him, the skin immediately covered with blisters.
The enraged ruler ordered the couple to be crucified. 9 long days they hung on the cross. One day, Mavre had a vision. It was as if an angel of the Lord had lifted her up to heaven, where she saw the throne with a white robe and a crown lying on it. The angel said it was her reward for suffering in the name of the Lord. An angel lifted up Mavra and showed her another throne. The robe and crown were even more beautiful. The angel explained that this is for Timothy, because through him her feat is accomplished.
Mavra shared her vision with Timothy, and they waited meekly for their end.
Local Christians bought their bodies and buried them with honor. And then I noticed that the prayers at the grave were very effective. The sick were healed, the demons calmed down. Over time, the relics were lost, but the icons remained. Believers are praying for help from the saints.
Memorial Day
May 16
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
