SS. TIMOTHY, AGAPIUS, AND THECLA, MARTYRS - 19 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 19th of August

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

SS. TIMOTHY, AGAPIUS, AND THECLA, MARTYRS 

Whilst Diocletian was still in charge, Urban, the president of Palestine, signalised his rage and cruelty against the Christians. In the second year of the general persecution, by his order, 

Saint Timothy, for having boldly confessed his faith, was inhumanly scourged, his sides were torn with iron combs on the rack, and he was at length burnt to death at a slow fire at Gaza, on May 1, 304, giving by his patience, a certain proof that his charity was perfect. 

THEY WERE EXPOSED TO WILD BEASTS

Saint Agapius and Saint Thecla, after suffering many torments, were condemned by the same judge to be led to Caesarea, and there exposed to wild beasts. Thecla was despatched by the beasts in the amphitheatre; but Agapius escaped both from their fury and from the swords of the confectors on that day. 

HE WAS DETAINED TWO YEARS LONGER IN PRISON

He was therefore detained two years longer in prison, till Maximin Daia Caesar gave orders that this confessor should be one of the victims to grace the festival, unless he would abjure the Christian faith. His sufferings had no way abated his constancy, and the delay of his crown had increased the ardour of his desires speedily to join his companions in glory.

AGAPIUS' MARTYRDOM

In the amphitheatre he was torn by a bear, but not killed either by the beasts or confectors; and wounded as he was, on the following day he was thrown into the sea. Both Latins and Greeks celebrate the memory of these martyrs on August 19. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)