The Martyrdom of St. Timothy the Disciple of St. Paul

On this day in the year 97 A.D., St. Timothy the disciple of St. Paul was martyred. He was born in the City of Lystra of the district of Lycaonia in Asia Minor to a Greek father who worshipped the stars and a Jewish mother whose name was Eunice, who was a believer (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5).

When St Paul was preaching in Lystra, Timothy heard his teachings. He saw the signs that God wrought by Paul's hands. Timothy believed and was baptised. He became a disciple of the Apostle Paul, followed him in his travels, and shared his labor.

In the year 53 AD, St. Paul ordained Timothy as bishop over the City of Ephesus and the neighbouring cities. St. Timothy preached there, converted many to the Christian faith, and baptised them. St. Paul wrote him two Epistles, the first of which was in 65 A.D. The second was shortly before 67 A.D. urging Timothy to continue to preach, and instructing him in the principles of choosing Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and the conditions of a true widow. Paul also cautioned Timothy about false prophets and commanded Timothy not to lay his hand on one swiftly but only after thorough examination and training.

St. Paul called Timothy his son and his beloved. St. Timothy delivered four Epistles for St. Paul, the Epistle to Corinth; the second to Philippi, the third to Thessalonica and the fourth to the Hebrews.

St. Timothy shepherded the flock of Christ extremely well, and he illumined many minds by his teachings, cautions and admonitions. He continued to rebuke the Jews and the Greeks, therefore they envied him, congregated against him and started beating him until he was martyred. That was in the City of Ephesus. The believers took his body and buried him with honour.

Saint Tryphon

This saint came from a Frygian village called Lampsakon. He lived during the reign of King Gordian, that is, 295 years after Caesar Augustus or 239 years after Christ's birth.

When he was very young, St. Tryphon tended geese. However, although he had such a menial job, he was filled by the grace of the most Holy Spirit. Through St. Tryphon the Holy Spirit cured every disease and expelled demons. St. Tryphon even cured Gordian's daughter who was suffering from a demon, whom he ordered to appear to the by-standers as a black dog and reveal the wicked things he caused people to do. Through this miracle St. Tryphon brought many people to the faith of Christ.

During King Decius' reign, who succeeded King Philip the Arab in 249, St. Tryphon was accused to Aquilinus, prefect of the East, that as being a Christian and who did not worship the idols. Aquilinus was in Nicaea, and St. Tryphon was brought to him. There St. Tryphon first confessed Christ. He was beaten with wooden swords, tortured, and beheaded. Before he was beheaded though, he had commended his holy soul to the hands of God.

Departure of Anba Cyril (Kyrellos) IV, the 110th Pope of Alexandria

On this day also, the Church commemorates the departure of the great father Anba Cyril (Kyrellos) IV, the 110th Pope of Alexandria.

He was born in the town of Sawamaa which in near the City of Girga, to righteous parents in the year 1816 A.D. They named him David (Dawoud) after his grandfather. His father brought him up and educated him very well. He grew up despising the vanities of the world.

When he was 22 years old, Dawoud went to the Monastery of St. Antony, where he lived an ascetic life, which convinced the Abbot of the monastery, father Athanasius El-Kalousni, to clothe him with the garb of the monks. He continued to read and to study.

After he spent two years as a monk, the Abbot died and he was recommended by the consensus of the monks, to became their abbot. Anba Petros VII (El-Gawli), the 109th Pope of Alexandria, ordained him a priest and appointed him the abbot of the monastery. Dawoud took great care of the monastery and of the monks.

Dawoud was intellectually very sharp and was very well versed in religious matters. Once a problem occurred among the Ethiopians around some doctrines, so Anba Petros, the Pope, called upon him to go to Ethiopia to solve the problem. Dawoud did his duty very well, and as he returned on July 13, 1852, he found that Anba Petros had passed away on April 15, 1852.

When they tried to choose a successor to the Pope, there was a split in the people's opinions. Some wanted Father Dawoud and some others wanted someone else. Finally, they agreed to ordain Dawoud a General Bishop in the year 1853. He performed his duties as such for one year and two months, during which he showed the discretion that made him worthy to be chosen Patriarch (Anba Cyril) on Bashans 28, 1571 (Coptic calendar) (Civil calendar: 1854 A.D.).

Anba Cyril devoted great efforts in disciplining the youth and educating them. He established the famous Coptic school in the Patriarchate. He also established another school in Haret El-Sacaein. He paid a special attention to the teaching of the Coptic language in both the schools. He also bought a big printing house and printed many church books.

In general, the advancement of the Copts at that time was due to his efforts. He demolished the old Patriarchate church and built another, but he could not complete it because of his absence in Ethiopia for the second time.

Anba Cyril upheld the canons of the church, was charitable to the poor and the needy, and was deeply loved by his people. He departed on the Tubah 23, 1577 A.M. (Coptic calendar) (Civil calendar: 1861 A.D.).

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

People:

• Apostle Paul
  
• Hebrews
• Jews
• Greeks
• King Gordian
• Caesar Augustus
• Decius
• Philip the Arab
• Another biography of Pope Kyrellos IV
• Petros VII
• Ethiopians
• Copts

Places:

• Lystra
• Lycaonia
• Asia Minor
• Frygian
• Lampsakon
• Nicaea
• Ephesus
• Corinth
• Philippi
• Thessalonica
• Alexandria
• Girga
• Monestary of St. Anthony
• Ethiopia

Literature:

• Acts 16:1
• 2 Timothy 1:5
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Philippians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• Hebrews

Other:

• bishop
• priest
• deacon
• Coptic language
• Coptic calendar
  

Prayers

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Timothy triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, who gave your servant Tryphon boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for your servant Cyril, who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.