Timothy and Maura

The Holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura lived in the Thebaid of Egypt and suffered for Christ during Diocletian's persecution, in the year 286 according to tradition. The Church honours them as a husband and wife who remained faithful under torture and strengthened each other until death.

Timothy was a reader in the church of Antinoe and had recently married Maura. Denounced to the governor Arrian as a teacher of the Christians, he was ordered to hand over the Church's holy books, but he refused, saying that a father would sooner give up his children to death than the holy books, which were like his own sons. He was tormented in various ways. Maura was then brought in, and the governor tried to persuade her to urge her husband to renounce his faith; instead she urged him to stand firm, and both were tortured.

According to tradition, Timothy and Maura were crucified facing each other and remained so for ten days, encouraging one another and speaking of the faith, until they gave their souls into the Lord's hands. The governor Arrian, moved by their patience, later repented and confessed Christ himself.

The Greek calendar commemorates them on 10 November, the Slavic calendar on 3 May; they are also honoured on the island of Zakynthos, where they have a further commemoration on the Sunday after Pentecost.