Timothy of Esphigmenou

Venerable New Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou was born in the village of Paraora in the district of Kessani, in Thrace, and was named Triantaphyllos. He married and had two daughters. His wife left him and married a Turk; later she realised her mistake but could not easily free herself from the man of another faith. To rescue her from the Turk's hands, Triantaphyllos thought of pretending to become a Muslim himself, and then both would become monastics.

He went to court and said he would accept Islam if his wife were given back. The judges agreed gladly, had him circumcised, and gave her to him. After some months they fled in secret to Kydonies, where he left her in a convent, and he himself went to the Holy Mountain.

At the Great Lavra he worked first as a gardener and was tonsured a monk with the name Timothy; he stayed there six years. Hearing of the martyrdom of Agathangelos of Esphigmenou, he felt a longing to die for Christ. He moved into the community of Esphigmenou, where he received the great schema. With the blessing of Abbot Euthymius he left for Kessani, together with the hieromonk Euthymius, to bring back those who had denied the faith. They were betrayed, arrested and taken to the prison in Adrianople, where they were cruelly tormented. Euthymius and the monk Barnabas were released and expelled, but Timothy was beheaded on 29 October 1820.

Part of his bloodied garments is kept in Esphigmenou Monastery. He is commemorated on 29 October.