Born at Antioch of gentile parents, Titus was one of St. Paul's closest associates. He accompanied Paul as his secretary and interpreter on his journey to the Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem. Twice he was sent to Corinth on difficult missions. In 64, he was sent by Paul to organize the Church on the island of Crete. In the winter of 65-66, he was with Paul at Nicopolis (Epirus), also, for a time, at Rome during the latter's Second Roman Captivity.
Later, he was sent to Dalmatia. Ultimately, he was Paul's surrogate apostle to the Church in Crete, thus becoming its first bishop. And, of course, the Epistle to Titus was addressed to him. He died in Gortyna, Crete, probably in 94. A basilica, built there at his tomb, was burnt by the Saracens in 823. In 828, the Muslims transferred the capital from Gortyna to Chandax (Heraclion).
St. Titus church in Heraklion was built in 961, when Emperor Nikephoros Phocas drove the Arabs from Crete, bringing the island back under the wing of the Roman Empire. The skull of St. Titus, the miraculous icon of the Panagia Mesopanditissa, and other sacred relics from Gortyna were moved to this new church, which served as the city's cathedral. At the fall of Heraklion to the Turks, all relics were removed to Venice to the Basilica of St. Mark, where they remain to this day.
St. Titus Cathedral housed the Catholic archbishop and was renovated in 1466, only to be ruined in a fire in 1544. During the Turkish occupation, it served as a mosque called Vizier Tzami, when a minaret was added. The present-day structure is the result of further renovations by architect Athanasios Moussis. In 1922, after the Muslims left Heraklion, the minaret was removed. The Venetians returned the skull of St. Titus to Heraklion in 1966, and it is now honored in the cathedral in a silver reliquary.
Later, he was sent to Dalmatia. Ultimately, he was Paul's surrogate apostle to the Church in Crete, thus becoming its first bishop. And, of course, the Epistle to Titus was addressed to him. He died in Gortyna, Crete, probably in 94. A basilica, built there at his tomb, was burnt by the Saracens in 823. In 828, the Muslims transferred the capital from Gortyna to Chandax (Heraclion).
St. Titus church in Heraklion was built in 961, when Emperor Nikephoros Phocas drove the Arabs from Crete, bringing the island back under the wing of the Roman Empire. The skull of St. Titus, the miraculous icon of the Panagia Mesopanditissa, and other sacred relics from Gortyna were moved to this new church, which served as the city's cathedral. At the fall of Heraklion to the Turks, all relics were removed to Venice to the Basilica of St. Mark, where they remain to this day.
St. Titus Cathedral housed the Catholic archbishop and was renovated in 1466, only to be ruined in a fire in 1544. During the Turkish occupation, it served as a mosque called Vizier Tzami, when a minaret was added. The present-day structure is the result of further renovations by architect Athanasios Moussis. In 1922, after the Muslims left Heraklion, the minaret was removed. The Venetians returned the skull of St. Titus to Heraklion in 1966, and it is now honored in the cathedral in a silver reliquary.
Our relic of St. Titus came to the Vatican from among the relics in Venice. It was sealed and certified by Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca, Secretary of State of the Papal States in 1835 and was sent to Mount Athos in 1900 by Cardinal Serafino Cretoni, Prefect of the Congregation of Rites and Relics.
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