Saint Hieromartyr Timothy, Bishop
of Prussa.
Also known as Timothy of Prusa, Timotheos of Prussa, Timotheus Bishop of Bithynia, Timothy of Bithynia, St. Timothy the Bishop, Saint Timothy of Prussa
Bishop of Prussa in Bithynia who was imprisoned and martyred in 362 AD under Emperor Julian the Apostate for refusing to deny Christ. He is venerated as a wonderworker and protector of his flock throughout the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, / you found the way to divine contemplation, O divinely inspired one; / by rightly dividing the word of truth without error, / you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. / O Hieromartyr Timothy entreat Christ God to save our souls.
The Wonderworking
Bishop and Martyr
Timothy was the Bishop of Prussa in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey) during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate. Known for his miraculous powers and steadfast faith, he converted many pagans to Christianity before being imprisoned and ultimately martyred in 362 AD rather than deny his Lord. His relics were honored in Constantinople and his memory is cherished throughout the Eastern Orthodox Church as a protector and guide.
Early years
Timothy's early life and family background are not recorded in the surviving Orthodox traditions. He rose to become Bishop of Prussa in Bithynia, an important ecclesiastical position in the eastern reaches of the Roman Empire. He received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking because of his purity and sanctity of life. His episcopate was marked by missionary zeal and the grace of God working through him.
In the Church
At Prusa he converted many pagans to the faith in Christ. The Saint had power and grace from God, with which he worked various miracles. As a bishop, Timothy exemplified the apostolic tradition of tending his flock with spiritual wisdom and divine authority. Even in prison the faithful visited him in order to listen to the wise instruction of their arch-pastor. His pastoral care extended even to those imprisoned for the faith, demonstrating his deep commitment to the Gospel and his people.
Later years
When Emperor Julian the Apostate heard about Saint Timothy, he had him locked up in prison, but even there the saint continued to preach the Gospel. Julian forbade him to teach about Jesus Christ, but the saint continued to spread the Christian Faith. Despite the Emperor's hostility and the threat of execution, Timothy remained unmoved, continuing his ministry even within the prison walls.
Learning of Timothy's miracles among others done by the Saint, Julian ordered the executioner to behead Timothy in prison, in the year 362 A.D. Because of Timothy's great spiritual purity, God granted him the gift of working miracles, and he cured all diseases and afflictions of the people. His martyrdom was a witness to the power of faith in Christ and the futility of pagan opposition to God's truth.
Legacy and veneration
His holy relics were afterwards transferred to Constantinople. His relics have remained miracle-working, to help the people and to manifest the power of God. Timothy became venerated throughout the Eastern Orthodox world as a hieromartyr—a priest-martyr—whose suffering and steadfast faith exemplified apostolic courage.
His feast day is celebrated on June 10 throughout the Orthodox Church, and he is invoked as a protector against misfortune and a model of fidelity to Christ. The faithful seek his intercession, remembering his pastoral love and the miracles he wrought both in life and through his relics. He stands as a witness to the victory of Christ over the pagan opposition of the late Roman Empire and an inspiration to all who face trials for their faith.
Additional writings
Hieromartyr Timothy, Bishop of Prussa in Bithynia, lived during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363). He received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking because of his purity and sanctity of life. At Prusa he converted many pagans to the faith in Christ.
During Julian the Apostate's reign in 361, Timothy governed his church well, shepherding its people in the pasture of salvation. The Saint had power and grace from God, with which he worked various miracles, including killing a great dragon. The dragon lived in a cave along the public road, among the thermal waters of the city of Prousis, where there was a cypress tree. This dragon, having within it the invisible wickedness of the Devil, would kill with its breath alone not only people that passed by that place, but also beasts and animals. For this reason the road was made untrodden, and no one dared pass by there.
When Emperor Julian the Apostate heard about Saint Timothy, he had him locked up in prison, but even there the saint continued to preach the Gospel. Julian forbade him to teach about Jesus Christ, but the saint continued to spread the Christian Faith. Even in prison the faithful visited him in order to listen to the wise instruction of their arch-pastor.
Learning of Timothy's miracles among others done by the Saint, Julian ordered the executioner to behead Timothy in prison, in the year 362 A.D. His soul departed into Paradise, while his relics have remained miracle-working, to help the people and to manifest the power of God. His holy relics were afterwards transferred to Constantinople.
No kontakion is assigned to this saint in the Typikon of the Orthodox Church. The liturgical tradition does not provide a specific kontakion text for Hieromartyr Timothy, though his memory is honored with the troparion and the hymns and prayers of his feast day.
O holy and great Hieromartyr Timothy, boast of the people of Prussa, adornment of the Church, sacred sacrifice of faith, and precious and lustrous ornament of the martyrs: pray thou that those who celebrate thy most honored memory with faith may be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.
With thy pangs, O Timothy, thou didst weave an all-comely garment dyed in thy blood, and hast ineffably received from on high heavenly vesture of incorrupt purity and immutable life. Wearing this immaterial robe in the highest, pray thou in behalf of all who praise thee with piety, O athlete.
We beseech thee, O glorious Hieromartyr Timothy: by thy prayers deliver us from all dangers and afflictions, that we may render glory to Christ our God, who is glorified in the sufferings of His saints. Amen.
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References and further reading
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/06/10/101680-hieromartyr-timothy-bishop-of-prusa
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/troparia/1990/06/10/101680-hieromartyr-timothy-bishop-of-prusa
- orthodoxtimes.comhttps://orthodoxtimes.com/hieromartyr-timothy-bishop-of-prusa-10-june/
- akroasis.orghttps://akroasis.org/2019/06/10/science-of-the-saints-10-june/
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/104528.html
- holytrinityorthodox.comhttps://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/June/10-01.htm
- myrrh-bearers.orghttps://www.myrrh-bearers.org/english/june/M06-10-Timothy.html
- johnsanidopoulos.comhttps://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2019/06/synaxarion-of-holy-hieromartyr-timothy.html
- basilica.rohttps://basilica.ro/en/orthodox-calendar-june-10/
- byzantinela.comhttps://byzantinela.com/june-10-2023/
- orthodoxtimes.comhttps://orthodoxtimes.com/martyrs-alexander-and-antonina-hieromartyr-timothy-the-bishop-of-prusa/
- facebook.comhttps://www.facebook.com/orthodoxchurchinamerica/posts/the-hieromartyr-timothy-bishop-of-prusa-bithynia-received-from-the-lord-the-gift/1138088191686666/
- basilica.rohttps://basilica.ro/en/martyrs-alexander-and-antonina-hieromartyr-timothy-the-bishop-of-prusa/
- holytrinityorthodox.comhttps://holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/June/10-01.htm
- biblestudytools.comhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/the-tenth-persecution-under-diocletian-a-d-303.html
- europe.factsanddetails.comhttps://europe.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-737.html
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution
- josephsmithfoundation.orghttps://josephsmithfoundation.org/christian-persecution-under-diocletian/
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Diocletianic_Martyrs
- damascenepress.orghttps://damascenepress.org/blogs/spiritual-treasures/saints-timothy-maura