ST. TIMOTHY OF LYSTRA (JAN. 22ND)
A Coptic Icon of St. Timothy of Lystra, Apostle, Disciple of St. Paul, Early Bishop of the Church and Holy Martyr Edited by Bp. Joseph ( Ancient Church of the West ) In the early years of the Apostolic Church, St. Timothy, the beloved disciple of St. Paul, stood as a pillar of faith, a gentle yet resolute shepherd of Christ's flock. Born in Lystra, a city of Lycaonia, Timothy grew up in a household marked by the faith of his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, who nurtured him in the sacred writings of the Old Testament (2 Timothy 1:5). Though his father was a Greek and likely a pagan, Timothy's heart was firmly rooted in the promises of Israel's God, who would call him into the fullness of the Gospel. St. Paul first encountered Timothy on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). Impressed by Timothy’s reputation among the brethren and perceiving in him a gift for ministry, Paul took him under his wing, circumcising him to avoid offending Jewish communities the...
