"I have no one like him" - Saint Paul
Born around 17 AD, Saint Timothy was born in either the town of Lystra or Derbe in Anatolia (Western Turkey, home of the Seven Churches of Asia). His father was a Greek Gentile and his mother a convert from Judaism to the new Christian Way. He very likely embraced Christianity on Saint Paul's virst visit to Lystra (along Saint Barnabas). When Saint Paul returned a few years later, Saint Timothy was a respected member of the local community (as well was Saint Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois respectively).
Saint Paul brought Saint Timothy with him on their missionary journey to Macedonia. Saint Timothy gave up his home, family and any future plans to travel and spread the gospel alongside Saint Paul even as he knew the road ahead would be difficult beyond all measure. Saint Timothy also traveled with Saint Paul to Corinth and Ephesus. It was at Ephesus, in the year 64 AD, that Saint Timothy was left to govern the church there as Bishop.
It is likely that Saint Timothy suffered from stomach ailments as Saint Paul encouraged him to (1 Timothy 5:23):
“Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses”
Saint Paul kept him as a close friend, summoning him to Rome to visit him as he neared his martyrdom. Saint Paul named Saint Timothy as the co-writer of Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Saint John Damascene wrote that the Saints Timothy and John were both witnesses to the Assumption of Mary. In the apocryphal "Acts of Timothy", Saint Timothy is martyred in 97 AD when he halts a procession that is honoring the goddess Diana. He is violently assaulted by the crowd and stoned to death.
Saint Timothy's feast is celebrated alongside Saint Titus on January 26th (prior to the 1979 revision, his Feast day was separate and kept on January 24th). His relics were transferred from Ephesus to Constantinople in the 4th century - they were then moved in the 13th century by a count returning from the crusades to Italy and buried in the Termoli Cathedral.