Maura of the Thebaid

Holy Martyr Maura of the Thebaid suffered with her husband, Saint Timothy, in the time of Diocletian's persecution (284-305). Timothy came from the village of Perapea in the Egyptian Thebaid, the son of the priest Picolpos, a reader in the clergy and keeper and copyist of the service books.

Denounced for keeping Christian books, which the emperor had ordered to be taken and burned, he was brought before the governor Arian, who demanded the books. For refusing, hot iron rods were driven into his ears so that he lost his sight, and he was then hung head downward. Learning that Timothy had been married only twenty days, Arian brought in Maura, hoping to shake his constancy. But Timothy encouraged her not to fear, and Maura answered that she was ready to die with him and confessed herself a Christian. Her hair was torn out and her fingers cut off. Cast into a boiling cauldron, she remained unharmed. When the water burned him instead, Arian declared that the God of Maura was the true God and ordered her released, but the devil's hold on him was still strong, and soon he demanded again that she sacrifice. The people rose against the torments, but Maura said she had one Defender, God.

In the end Arian had both crucified, facing each other, and they hung nine days on the crosses. On the tenth day they gave their souls to the Lord, in the year 286. Later Timothy and Maura were honoured with great solemnity at Constantinople, and a church was built in their name. They are commemorated on 16 May, in the new style.