Timothy & Mavra the Martyrs

May 3

Reading:

The holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura were husband and wife. Timothy was from Penapeis in the Thebaid, a reader in the Church, and had been married to Maura only twenty days when he was betrayed to Arian, the Governor of the Thebaid, as a teacher of the Christians. Arian commanded Timothy to surrender his sacred books, which he refused to do, comparing it to a father's giving up his children to death. For this answer, heated iron spits were thrust through his ears. As he was being put to other tortures, Arian summoned Maura, hoping that she would persuade her husband to worship the idols, but she confessed herself a Christian. The hair of her head was pulled out, her fingers were cut off, then she was lowered into a cauldron of boiling water, but remained unharmed. Finally husband and wife were crucified facing each other, and after nine days, received their martyric end, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

O come, you believers all, and let us honor today the martyr saint Timothy and his co-athlete and wife Saint Mavra the bride of Christ, praising their brave endurance. In their own crucifixion longingly did they follow in the steps of the Savior who was slaughtered for us and who nailed to the Cross the sins of all.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Since ye endured through divers woundings and tortures and have received from God the garlands of vict'ry, rise up in intercession with the Lord for us, who with longing celebrate this, your sacred memorial, O Great Martyr Timothy, and most glorious Maura, that He grant peace to all His Church and flock, for He is truly the strength of all faithful flock.

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Icon courtesy of St. Isaac's Skete