TEOTIMUS, St. — Bishop of Tomi in Scythia, between the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th.
He labored greatly for the conversion of the Huns and Goths settled in the regions of Istria. His apostolic activity was often accompanied by miracles, so much so that the barbarians were wont to call him “the god of the Romans.” To win them over to the faith, T. often went among them or received them in his home, inviting them to dine and bestowing rich gifts upon them. His apostolate was also greatly aided by his appearance as a philosopher, since he wore long hair. He was, moreover, quite learned: St. Jerome, writing in 392 in his De Viris illustribus (ch. 131), attested that T. had composed some small works in dialogue form and was composing others.
In 403, when St. Epiphanius, urged on by Theophilus of Alexandria, went to Constantinople to secure the condemnation there of the works of Origen, T. was also present; but he absolutely refused to subscribe to the condemnation, affirming that it was not fitting to bring charges against a dead man whose works were read and approved by many as orthodox. To confirm his position, T. then read aloud some passages from an Origenist writing that he had brought with him. The time of his death is unknown; in the Roman Martyrology, where he was inserted by Baronius, he is commemorated on April 20.