Timothy, Saint, Martyr

TIMOTHY, Saint, Martyr. — He is already commemorated in the Deponitio martyrum on August 22 on the Via Ostiense. On the same date he is commemorated in the Gelasian Sacramentary of St. Gall and in the Gregorian.

In the Fasti Vindobonenses, however, he is commemorated on June 22, 306 (Priores) and on August 23, 303 (Posteriores). His tomb stood near the tomb of the apostle Paul, where the pilgrims of the 7th century venerated him. Without doubt, however, [he suffered] in the persecution of Diocletian, but nothing is known of his martyrdom. The Itineraries and two inscriptions point to the Actus Silvestri, an apocryphal writing of the early 6th century, as the biographical source for T. In them it is narrated that T. was a noble Antiochene; having come to Rome, he was received by the young Silvester, the future pope. For 15 months he preached in the City, effecting many conversions, until, arrested, he was brought before the tribunal of the prefect Tarquinius who, after harsh torments, had him beheaded. His body was buried by a certain Theon in his own garden on the Via Ostiense, near the tomb of St. Paul. Pope Miltiades dedicated a "memoria" to him in the house of Silvester.

Agostino Amore