TEOTIMO, saint. — Bishop of Tomi in Scythia, between the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th.
He devoted much effort to the conversion of the Huns and Goths settled in the regions of the Danube. His apostolic activity was often accompanied by miracles, so much so that the barbarians used 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 house, inviting them to dinner and giving them rich gifts. His apostolate was also greatly enhanced by his philosopher-like appearance, since he wore long hair. He was, however, also quite learned: St. Jerome, writing his De Viris illustribus in 392 (ch. 131), atte-
-sted that T. had composed several short works in dialogue form and was composing others. In 403, when St. Epiphanius, urged on by Theophilus of Alexandria, went to Constantinople to have the works of Origen condemned there, T. was also present; but he absolutely refused to subscribe to the condemnation, asserting that it was not appropriate to attack a dead man whose works were read and approved by many as orthodox. To substantiate his observations, T. then read several passages from a writing by Origen that he had brought with him. The date of his death is unknown; in the Roman Martyrology, where he was entered by Baronius, he is commemorated on 20 April.