Saint Timothy First Bishop of Ephesus Key Ring

A dignified and historically grounded depiction of Saint Timothy, the beloved disciple of Saint Paul and the first Christian bishop of Ephesus. According to Britannica, Timothy was born in Lystra to a Jewish mother and a Greek father and joined Paul during his second missionary journey around 50 AD. Paul circumcised him “because of the Jews in those places” (Acts 16:1–3) and made him a close collaborator, entrusting him with delicate missions across Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece. Two New Testament letters — 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy — are addressed directly to him, offering pastoral guidance for his leadership in Ephesus. Tradition recorded in the Acts of Timothy states that Timothy was martyred in Ephesus around AD 97, beaten to death by a pagan mob after protesting an idolatrous festival. He is venerated as a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity, with feast days on 22 January (East) and 26 January (West). Timothy is often depicted with a pastoral staff, mitre, or the Scriptures, symbolizing his role as bishop, teacher, and guardian of apostolic tradition. Perfect for sacred art prints, educational materials, devotional designs, and early Christian history themes.