# Saint Titus

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Greek saint

Saint Titus Bishop and Companion of Paul Born 1st century Died 96 or 107 Gortyn, Crete and Cyrenaica, Roman Empire Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox churches Roman Catholic Church Lutheranism Anglican Communion Canonized Pre-Congregation Major shrine Heraklion, Crete Feast August 25 (Orthodoxy) January 26 (Catholicism) Thursday after fifth Sunday after feast of the Holy Cross (Armenian Apostolic Church)[1] Patronage Crete

**Titus** ([/ˈtaɪtəs/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*TY-təs*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key); [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek_language): Τίτος, *Títos*) was an early Christian missionary and church leader, a companion and disciple of [Paul the Apostle](/source/Paul_the_Apostle), mentioned in several of the [Pauline epistles](/source/Pauline_epistles) including the [Epistle to Titus](/source/Epistle_to_Titus). He is believed to be a [Gentile](/source/Gentile) converted to Christianity by Paul and, according to tradition, he was consecrated as Bishop of the Island of [Crete](/source/Crete).[2]

Titus brought a fundraising letter from Paul to [Corinth](/source/Ancient_Corinth), to collect for the poor in Jerusalem. According to [Jerome](/source/Jerome), Titus was the [amanuensis](/source/Amanuensis) of this epistle ([2 Corinthians](/source/Second_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians)).[3] Later, on Crete, Titus appointed [presbyters](/source/Presbyter) (elders) in every city and remained there into his old age, dying in [Gortyna](/source/Gortyna).[2]

## Life

Titus was a Greek, who may have studied Greek philosophy and poetry in his early years.[4] He seems to have been converted by Paul, whereupon he served as Paul's [secretary](/source/Secretary) and [interpreter](/source/Interpreter). In the year 48 or 49 CE, Titus accompanied Paul to the council held at Jerusalem, on the subject of the [Mosaic](/source/Moses) rites.[5]

In the fall of 55 or 56 CE, Paul, as he himself departed from [Asia](/source/Asia_(Roman_province)), sent Titus from [Ephesus](/source/Ephesus) to [Corinth](/source/Ancient_Corinth), with full commission to remedy the fallout precipitated by Timothy's delivery of 1 Corinthians[6] and Paul's "Painful Visit",[7] particularly a significant personal offense and challenge to Paul's authority by one unnamed individual.[8] During this journey, Titus served as the [courier](/source/Courier) for what is commonly known as the "Severe Letter", a Pauline missive that has been [lost](/source/Lost_literary_work)[9] but is referred to in [2 Corinthians 7:8–9](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2%20Corinthians%207:8–9).

After success on this mission, Titus journeyed north and met Paul in [Macedonia](/source/Macedonia_(Roman_province)). There the apostle, overjoyed by Titus' success,[10] wrote 2 Corinthians. Titus then returned to Corinth with a larger entourage, carrying 2 Corinthians with him. Paul joined Titus in Corinth later. From Corinth, Paul then sent Titus to organize the collections of [alms](/source/Alms) for the Christians at Jerusalem. Titus was therefore a [troubleshooter](/source/Troubleshooting), [peacemaker](/source/Peace_makers), [ecclesiastical administrator](/source/Ecclesiastical_administrator), and [missionary](/source/Missionary).

Early church tradition holds that Paul, after his release from his first imprisonment in Rome, stopped at the island of Crete to preach. Due to the needs of other churches, requiring his presence elsewhere, he ordained his disciple Titus as bishop of that island,[11] and left him to finish the work he had started. [John Chrysostom](/source/John_Chrysostom) says that this is an indication of the esteem Paul held for Titus.[5]

Paul summoned Titus from Crete to join him at [Nicopolis](/source/Nicopolis) in [Epirus](/source/Epirus).[12] Later, Titus traveled to [Dalmatia](/source/Early_centers_of_Christianity#Salona).[13] The [New Testament](/source/New_Testament) does not record his death.

## Possible identification with Timothy

Titus and Timothy as separate individuals, in a mosaic in the [Church of the Savior on Blood](/source/Church_of_the_Savior_on_Blood)

It has been argued that the name "Titus" in 2 Corinthians and Galatians was an informal name used by Timothy, a view circumstantially supported by the fact that both are said to be long-term close companions of Paul, even though they never appear together in these books.[14] The theory proposes that a number of passages ([1 Corinthians 4](/source/1_Corinthians_4):17, 16.10; [2 Corinthians 2](/source/2_Corinthians_2):13, 7:6, 13–14, 12:18; and [Acts 19](/source/Acts_19).22) refer to the same journey of a single individual, variously called Titus and Timothy. In support of this position, some draw on the fourth-century commentaries of [Gaius Marius Victorinus](/source/Gaius_Marius_Victorinus).[15]

## Veneration

Titus was venerated as a saint earlier than 261 CE.[16] The feast day of Titus was not included in the [Tridentine calendar](/source/Tridentine_calendar). When added in 1854, it was assigned to 6 February.[17] In 1969, the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) assigned the feast to [26 January](/source/January_26) so as to celebrate the two disciples of Paul, Titus and Timothy, the day after the feast of the [Conversion of St. Paul](/source/Conversion_of_St._Paul).[18] The [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America](/source/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America) celebrates these two, together with [Silas](/source/Silas), on the [same date](/source/January_26) while he is honored on the calendars of the [Church of England](/source/Calendar_of_saints_(Church_of_England)) and [Episcopal Church](/source/Calendar_of_saints_(Episcopal_Church)) (with [Timothy](/source/Saint_Timothy)) on [26 January](/source/January_26).[19][20]

The [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) commemorates Titus on 25 August and on [4 January](/source/Seventy_disciples). His relics, now consisting of only his [skull](/source/Skull), are venerated in the Church of St. Titus, [Heraklion](/source/Heraklion), Crete, to which it was returned in 1966[21] after being removed to [Venice](/source/Venice) during the period of [Ottoman Crete](/source/Ottoman_Crete) (1667–1898).

Titus is the patron saint of the [United States Army Chaplain Corps](/source/United_States_Army_Chaplain_Corps). The Corps has established the Order of Titus Award, described by the Department of Defense:

Order of Titus award is the only award presented by the Chief of Chaplains to recognize outstanding performance of ministry by chaplains and chaplain assistants. The Order of Titus is awarded for meritorious contributions to the unique and highly visible Unit Ministry Team Observer Controller Program. The award recognizes the great importance of realistic, doctrinally guided combat ministry training in ensuring the delivery of prevailing religious support to the American Soldier.[22]

## See also

- [Christianity portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianity)

- [Epistle of Pseudo-Titus](/source/Epistle_of_Pseudo-Titus)

## References

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Saint Titus](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Saint_Titus)***.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *Domar: the calendrical and liturgical cycle of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church*, Armenian Orthodox Theological Research Institute, 2002, p. 528.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Smith,_William_1975._Pp._701_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Smith,_William_1975._Pp._701_2-1) Smith, William. *Smith's Bible Dictionary* 11th printing, November 1975. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revel Company. pp. 701–02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Jerome, Letter 120: "Therefore Titus served as an interpreter, as Saint Mark used to serve Saint Peter, with whom he wrote his Gospel..."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cna_4-0)** [""Timothy and Titus", Catholic News Agency, January 26, 2015"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170428173145/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com:80/saint.php?n=128). Archived from [the original](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com:80/saint.php?n=128) on 28 April 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-butler_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-butler_5-1) ["Butler, Alban. *The Lives of the Saints*, Vol. I, (1866)"](http://www.bartleby.com/210/1/041.html). 12 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [1 Corinthians 16:10–11](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:1%20Corinthians%2016:10–11)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [2 Corinthians 2:1](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2%20Corinthians%202:1)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [2 Corinthians 2:5–11](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2%20Corinthians%202:5–11)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["St. Titus"](https://urhotheway.com/2020/08/25/st-titus/). *Urho, The Way*. Retrieved January 26, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [2 Corinthians 7:6–15](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2%20Corinthians%207:6–15)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Titus 1:5](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Titus%201:5)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Titus 3:12](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Titus%203:12)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-losservatore_13-0)** ["Pope Benedict XVI. "Timothy and Titus", *L'Osservatore Romano*, p. 11, December 27, 2006"](http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/b16ChrstChrch26.HTM).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Fellows, Richard G. "Was Titus Timothy?" *Journal for the Study of the New Testament* **81** (2001):33–58.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Cooper, Stephen. *Marius Victorinus' Commentary on Galatians*. Oxford University Press, 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [\[1\]](https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-uncover-earliest-known-evidence-christianity-north-alps-unusual-time)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** *Calendarium Romanum* (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 86

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** *Calendarium Romanum* (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 116

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["The Calendar"](https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/calendar). *The Church of England*. Retrieved 2021-03-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Titus and Timothy, Companions of Saint Paul"](https://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary/titus-and-timothy/). *The Episcopal Church*. Retrieved 2022-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_Orthodox_Messenger,_v._8(7/8),_July/Aug_1997_21-0)** ["The Orthodox Messenger, v. 8(7/8), July/Aug 1997"](http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/titus.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Titus Award"](https://www.army.mil/article/50256). 11 January 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saint Titus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Titus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Titus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.