The Church commemorates Apostle Titus, a companion, and disciple of Paul the Apostle, who was ordained the first bishop of Crete in AD 62 or 63.
The Epistle to Titus, which is attributed to Saint Paul, was addressed to Saint Titus and instructed him to organize the Church of Crete. This epistle contains important information about Apostle Titus, such as the fact that he had important companions on the island of Crete for the spread of the Gospel, including Apollos and Zenas the Lawyer. References to the Apostle Titus can also be found in the Epistle to Timothy, mentioning that he was in Dalmatia, without, however, clarifying the reason.
Apostle Titus was well-educated and started his career in Jerusalem, where he bear witness to the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. Following Saint Paul the Apostle, he found himself in Crete, became head of the Church of the island, and founded nine dioceses.
He died at the age of 94 around the year 105 AD in Crete. His sacred skull was found in Heraklion and remained there until September 1669, when, after the Fall of Constantinople, it was transported to Venice along with all the sacred relics of the city.
The Holy Skull of the Apostle Titus returned with a majestic ceremony on May 15, 1966, during the ministry of Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, from Venice to Heraklion, the seat of the semi-autonomous Church of Crete under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Source: Church of Cyprus
