09/23/2024 Egypt (International Christian Concern) – Through the mountains and valleys of the Christian life, there are few greater blessings than a spouse who encourages you in the faith. This is perhaps no more important at any other time than in the final moments of one’s life. Among the brave believers who have learned this lesson through the honor of martyrdom are saints Timothy and Maura.

In the late 3rd century, Timothy served as a reader in the church clergy as well as the keeper and copyist of Christian literature. Timothy was eventually brought before Governor Arian and ordered to turn in the books to be burned, but he refused.

The governor then subjected Timothy to torture so severe that the guards begged the governor to relent. It was at this point that the governor learned that Timothy had married a young woman named Maura only 20 days prior. Hoping to break Timothy’s will, the governor also detained Maura. A battered and newly blind Timothy implored his wife not to fear the suffering but to follow him through the torture.

In full defiance of Governor Arian, Maura boldly proclaimed her faith in Christ and reassured her husband, “I am prepared to die with you.”

The governor then ordered several gruesome forms of torture for Maura, yet she faced them gracefully and even thanked Arian for the opportunity to suffer for Christ. At one point, Maura was tossed into a cauldron of boiling water, but she appeared unbothered. Assuming the torturers had filled the cauldron with cold water in pity, the governor asked Maura to splash his hand with the water. Yet, when she did so, he cried out in pain as he burned his hand.

Despite the governor’s best efforts, neither Timothy nor Maura would denounce their faith.

Seeing that the couple would remain steadfast to the end, the governor ordered their crucifixion. For an agonizing 10 days, Timothy and Maura hung on crosses facing each other until they were called into eternity.

It’s difficult to imagine the anguish that Timothy and Maura endured both physically and emotionally as they witnessed each other’s pain. Yet, they held fast to their faith with the encouragement that the pain would soon end and that better rewards awaited them. Though their marriage was brief, they had the distinct privilege of walking each other home to their beloved Savior.

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