TITUS REMEMBERED ON CRETE
Although it is uncertain when the apostle Paul visited the island of Crete, that he did visit it, and that he left Titus behind to establish its church, is a matter of history. Paul’s pattern would have been to do this work himself, but some pressing concern must have caused him to entrust this foundational work to his spiritual son, Titus.
My wife and I visited Crete in 2013. We arrived by ship and walked from the harbor to its capital, Heraklion. There, we found the object of our journey, namely, the Agios Titos, the Church of Saint Titus. Within this Greek Orthodox Church, they claim to have the skull of Saint Titus, proudly displaying it in a gold-encrusted setting.
The practice of keeping relics is an ancient one and it seems certain that neither Titus nor Paul would’ve wanted such. Yet, the existence of the church, and even the macabre (to Western eyes) relic of Saint Titus, point to the reality that the church planting efforts of Paul and Titus have withstood the test of time and of history.
The Bible can be trusted. The people and places it describes are real.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word. We read it everyday to feed our souls and to encourage our minds. Thank you for giving us Your Word. Now strengthen us by Your Spirit to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.