Saint Titus

Bishop

Feast Day

January 26

Life

d. 96

Born

Greece (Gentile origin)

Titus was a Greek convert and a co-worker of Saint Paul. Paul testifies in Galatians 2:1-3 that he took Titus, "a Greek," with him to the Jerusalem council and that the council did not require Titus's circumcision, an event of decisive importance for the freedom of Gentile Christians from the works of the Mosaic law.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks repeatedly and warmly of Titus. He sent him to Corinth to address the crisis in that Church and to organize the collection for the saints of Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 7:6-7; 8:6, 16-23). The letter calls him "my partner and co-worker for you" (2 Corinthians 8:23). The success of his mission in Corinth is one of the documented evidences of his pastoral skill.

The Letter to Titus, addressed to him as Paul's representative in Crete, instructs him to "put in order what remains" and to "appoint elders in every town" (Titus 1:5). The letter offers a brief but precise sketch of episcopal qualifications and of sound doctrine, and includes the Christological formula about the appearing of "our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

Eusebius records that Titus was bishop of the Cretans (Ecclesiastical History III, 4). According to a tradition preserved by his church on Crete, he died at an advanced age about the year 96. His relics are at the Cathedral of Saint Titus in Heraklion. The General Roman Calendar of 1969 joined his memorial with that of Timothy on January 26.