What Church feast day is February 4: Feast Day of St. Timothy the Apostle
On February 4, the Orthodox Church remembers the Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, the first Bishop of Ephesus and the closest follower of the Apostle Paul. In 2025, the celebration falls on Tuesday. "Izvestia" tells about what they pray to the saint and who celebrates namesakes on this winter day.
Church holiday February 4 - Memorial Day of the Holy Apostle Timothy
St. Timothy was born in the I century in the Malaysian city of Lystra (now the territory of modern Turkey) in the family of a Hellenic and a Jewish woman who converted to Christianity. According to tradition, the young man decided to preach after meeting the Apostle Paul during his first journey to Lystra.
While in the city together with the apostle Barnabas, Paul healed a man lame from birth in front of everyone's eyes. Many of the inhabitants who witnessed this miracle believed in Christ. Among them was young Timothy.
When Paul came to Lystra again, the young man asked to be taken with him. In spite of his youth, Timothy studied with great zeal with the apostle, and fulfilled all his commissions. In time Timothy became Paul's constant companion, preaching the Christian faith together with him. He called his disciple his beloved and faithful son in the Lord.
It was Paul who ordained Timothy as a bishop of the Ephesian church. And shortly before his execution, while he was in prison in Rome, he called him to him to give him his last instructions. In all, two pastoral epistles of the apostle Paul were addressed to Timothy, which became part of the New Testament.
After Paul's martyrdom, Timothy returned to Ephesus to the place of his ministry, and continued to preach the word of God. During one of the pagan feasts he sharply denounced the idolaters. In response, he was first beaten and then stoned to death.
In the fourth century the relics of the Apostle Timothy were transferred to Constantinople, where they were placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles. The memory of the saint is commemorated twice a year: February 4 and January 17 - on the day of the Council of the Apostles of the Seventy.
What to Pray to St. Timothy the Apostle for
Traditionally, on the feast, believers attend the service in the temple and read prayers. The saint is prayed to for the granting of strength, strengthening of faith and guidance on the path of truth. They also ask him for intercession in difficult situations, health, healing from illnesses and infirmities.
On the day of the memory of the saint, you can recite the following prayer:
"O holy apostle of Christ Timothy, by good deeds on earth, you received in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all those who love Him. Wherefore, beholding thy holy image, we rejoice in the glorious end of thy life, and honor thy holy memory. But thou, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and offer them to the Most Merciful God. O that we may be forgiven every transgression and be helped to stand against the wiles of the devil, that we may be delivered from sorrows, diseases, troubles and misfortunes, and all evil. Let us live piously and righteously in this present age, and through thy intercession, even though we are unworthy, we shall be able to see good things in the earth of the living, glorifying God alone in His saints, glorified in His saints, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
Who has a name day today, February 4
According to the Church calendar, on February 4, the Feast Day of St. Timothy the Apostle, men with the names Agathon, Anastasius, Gabriel, George, Ivan, Joseph, Leontius, Makar, Manuel, Peter, and Timothy have their first names. There are no women's namesakes on this day.
Earlier in February celebrated the Memorial Day of St. Macarius the Great. "Izvestia" told what this saint is known and who he helps.
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