Today, September 7, the Church remembers the holy Apostle Titus of 70translated

Saint Apostle Titus (+ 1st century), Bishop of Crete, one of the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ, is remembered on September 7 by the Orthodox Church.

Apostle Titus. Fresco

The Apostle Titus was from the island of Crete from a family of noble pagans. In his youth, he studied Hellenic philosophy and poetry, while he led a virtuous and pious life, avoiding the vices inherent in most pagans at that time. Moreover, according to the testimony of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Saint Titus kept his body in virgin condition.

For such a righteous life, God honored the young man with a soul-saving miracle. At the age of 20, Titus heard a voice in a dream, commanding him to abandon the study of Hellenic wisdom. After this, the young man waited a whole year for another command, in which he was called to study the Holy Scriptures. Saint Titus began his acquaintance with the Bible by reading the Book of the Prophet Jonah - opening it at the 41st chapter, he was amazed by what he read, which seemed to be about himself.

When news reached Crete that the Great Prophet had appeared in Palestine (who was the Lord Jesus Christ), Titus’s uncle, and at the same time the ruler of the island, sent him to look at this Prophet.

Saint Titus saw the Savior in Jerusalem: he heard...