Feast Day: May 3rd
The Life of Saint Timothy and Saint Mavra: Therefore the brave athletes remained on the cross for nine days, encouraging each other, that they may endure the torments and not grow fainthearted…
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Prayers
Apolytikion: Let us the faithful honour Timothy with Mavra his faithful fellow-athlete, the bride of Christ, and let us praise their bold endurance; for being crucified they lovingly followed Him Who was slain, and Who has nailed all our sins to the Cross.
Kontakion: Having endured many wounds and receiving crowns from God, O great Timothy and glorious Mavra, Pray to God for us who celebrate your memory, that He may grant peace to His flock and people; for He is the strength of the faithful.
Apolytikion: O come, you believers all, and let us honour today the Martyr Saint Timothy and his co-athlete and wife Saint Mavra the bride of Christ, praising their brave endurance. In their own crucifixion longingly did they follow in the steps of the Saviour Who was slaughtered for us and Who nailed to the Cross the sins of all.
Hymn of Praise by Saint Nikolai Velimirovich: Timothy and Mavra, crucified and pale, through the Lord Christ, looked at one another, and by the spirit see each other better than with the eyes, by pain exalted, above all things. And Timothy speaks: “Mavra, my sister, you are of a female nature, and your pain is greater! By Prayer be encouraged, do not despair sister, all of your thoughts, affix to Christ.” Mavra replied: “Brother Timothy, the Spirit of God I feel, in my Soul it waves. He keeps me strong, and helpless He strengthens me, and the Sweet Jesus, my pains alleviates, but, about you, my glorious pride, I am concerned, what kind of pains, with yours can be similar? But just a little while, a little while, my sweet brother, from the thorns of sufferings, then the roses will blossom, to the entire Heavenly Host, the darling you will be, only endure, endure without sound and sobbing let us be alert brother, let us not fall asleep, perhaps the Lord might come, that we not be ashamed. Behold, the entire Heavens opened, I see unseen treasures for us prepared.” Then Timothy to Mavra: “O sister, wonderful, Bride of Christ, glorious Martyr, for His glorious Mercy, let us Glorify God, that such an honourable death, He permitted upon us. O Glory to You O Saviour, Who for us suffered; our spirit, we now commend into Your hands.”
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Speaking in defence to the governor, Saint Timothy said: “I consider the books of the Christians as my own children, on these I am established, and through these I am guarded by Angels.”
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While the Saints were on the cross, the devil came, and in her imagination he gave Saint Mavra a cup full of honey and milk. By her Prayers the Saint rejected it. He also showed the Saint through her imagination a river flowing with milk and honey, and he urged her to drink. She said to the devil: “I do not want to drink from these corruptible things, but from the cup of life and immortality prepared by Christ.” By this the devil was defeated, and he withdrew. An Angel of the Lord also came to the them, who grabbed Saint Mavra by the hand, and made it appear that he raised her to Heaven, and showed her a bright throne, with a white garment on the throne, and a crown, and he said to her: “These are prepared for you.” Then he brought her to a higher place, and showed her another throne, and another most beautiful garment, and another crown, and said to her: “These are prepared for your husband. The difference between the higher and lower throne is clear, for your husband became the benefactor of your Salvation, and not you his.”
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