TIMOTHY, Saint, Martyr. — He is already mentioned in the Depositio martyrum on 22 August 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 recorded on 22 June 306 (Priores) and on 23 August 303 (Posteriores). His tomb was near the tomb of the Apostle Paul, where he was venerated by pilgrims of the 7th century. Without doubt, there was no persecution under Diocletian, but nothing is known of his martyrdom. Itineraries and two inscriptions refer to the Actus Silvestri as a biographical source for T. This is an apocryphal work from the early 6th century. It relates that T. was a nobleman of Antioch; having come to Rome he was welcomed by the young Sylvester, the future pope. For 15 months he preached in the city, bringing about many conversions, until he was arrested and brought before the tribunal of the prefect Tarquinio, who, after various torments, had him beheaded. His body was buried by a certain Theon in her garden on the Via Ostiense, near the tomb of St Paul. Pope Miltiades dedicated a ‘memoria’ to him in Sylvester’s house.