TIMOTEO, saint, martyr. — He is already commemorated in the Deponitio martyrum on 22 Aug. 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, on the other hand, he is commemorated on 22 June 306 (Priores) and on 23 Aug. 303 (Posteriores). His tomb stood near that of the apostle Paul, where pilgrims venerated him in the 7th century. He undoubtedly suffered during the persecution of Diocletian, but nothing is known of his martyrdom. The Itineraries and two inscriptions indicate as the biographical source for T. the Actus Silvestri, an apocryphal writing from the beginning of the 6th century. They relate that T. was an Antiochene nobleman; having come to Rome, he was received by the young Silvestro, the future pope. For 15 months he preached in the City, bringing about many conversions, until, having been arrested, he was brought before the tribunal of the prefect Tarquinio who, after cruel tortures, 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 Miliziade dedicated a « memoria » to him in the house of Silvestro.