Titus the Wonderworker
Our Venerable Father Titus the Wonderworker
Venerable · Wonderworker · d. 9th century
Commemorated 2 April — Commemoration of the wonderworking abbot
Titus was a monk from his youth who, raised to be abbot of his monastery, was granted by God the gift of wonderworking, and who stood firm for the veneration of the holy icons in the days of the Iconoclast persecution. Meek, humble and full of love, he finished his course in peace and is honoured among the venerable fathers.
Titus embraced the monastic life while still young, entering a monastery and giving himself to obedience, fasting and unceasing prayer. By the purity and gentleness of his life he was accounted worthy to be set over the brotherhood as abbot, and he governed his monks not by severity but by the example of his own humility and love. God granted him the grace of miracles — the healing of the sick and the driving-away of unclean spirits — so that his name became known.
In the troubled years of the war on the holy images, Titus did not waver but kept and taught the Orthodox confession, that the honour rendered to the icon passes to the one depicted; and he encouraged his flock to hold fast. Having lived out his days in this ascetic labour, he reposed in peace and was numbered among the venerable and God-bearing fathers.
Feast and commemoration
April 2 (church date; Old Calendar civil April 15), within Great Lent.
Hymns
Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable)
In thee, O Father, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to God's image; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Titus, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Original translation from the Greek
Iconography
Titus is shown as an aged monk in the schema, holding a scroll. No pre-1900 icon of him alone has been identified for this collection.