Venerable (Monastic) 6th century

Venerable Dositheus of Palestine

6th century

Also known as Dositheus of Gaza · Dositheos, disciple of Abba Dorotheus

A former soldier who became the disciple of Abba Dorotheus of Gaza and a model of perfect obedience, tending the sick of the monastery though himself afflicted with illness.

Feast Day

February 19

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Dositheus of Palestine, Disciple of Abba Dorotheus

Life

Dositheus was a sixth-century monk of Palestine, remembered chiefly as a disciple of Abba Dorotheus of Gaza and as a model of monastic obedience. According to his Life, he came from a rich and well-known family, and before his conversion served as a page in a military household, living what the sources describe as a worldly and frivolous life.

His vita relates that, drawn by tales of Jerusalem heard from the servants of his grandfather, a military commander, he travelled to the holy city. At Gethsemane he stood for a long time before a depiction of the Last Judgment, where a woman appeared and instructed him to fast, abstain from meat, and pray constantly; the tradition identifies her as the Theotokos. Following this encounter he sought the monastic life and entered the community of Abba Seridus near Gaza, where he was placed under the guidance of the Elder Dorotheus.

Within the monastery Dositheus was assigned to the infirmary, caring for the sick, and became known for his humility and his perfect submission of his own will to his elder. After about five years he fell gravely ill and bore his suffering patiently until his death. He is commemorated on February 19 in the Slavic calendar and on August 13 in Greek usage.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

Before conversion A worldly youth in a military household Born into a rich and renowned family, Dositheus served as a page in a military household and, by the account of his Life, led a frivolous and worldly life before his conversion.
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem The vision at Gethsemane Drawn by tales of Jerusalem heard from his grandfather's servants, Dositheus journeyed to the holy city. At Gethsemane he gazed at a depiction of the Dread Last Judgment, and a woman appeared who counselled him to fast, abstain from meat, and pray constantly. The tradition identifies her as the Most Holy Theotokos.
Entry into monastic life Disciple of Abba Dorotheus Still a young man, Dositheus entered the monastery of Abba Seridus near Gaza, a community that also numbered the great ascetics Barsanuphius and John. He was placed under the Elder Dorotheus, who trained him gradually in abstinence and fasting and in the cutting off of his own will.
After about five years Illness and repose Having fulfilled his obedience in the monastery infirmary, caring for the sick, Dositheus fell into a serious illness. He endured it patiently, praying constantly and without complaint, and died after receiving the blessing of the elder Barsanuphius to depart in peace.

Contributions & Legacy

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Obedience and Service in the Monastery

At the monastery of Abba Seridus, Dositheus was given charge of the infirmary, where he cared for the sick of the community. His life became distinguished less by extraordinary feats of asceticism than by humility, self-denial, and the gentle, supportive manner with which he tended the ill.

His elder Dorotheus trained him chiefly in the renunciation of self-will, leading him gradually in abstinence and fasting by decreasing each day the quantity of food he consumed. Dorotheus later testified that Dositheus had surpassed his other disciples in virtue without practising any unusual austerity, holding him up as a pattern of obedience.

Illness, Death, and Veneration

After about five years in the monastery, Dositheus contracted a wasting illness of the lungs. As his strength failed he was released from part of his prayer rule, Dorotheus counselling him simply to keep the remembrance of God. He bore his sufferings patiently and reposed after asking forgiveness and receiving the blessing of the elder Barsanuphius to depart.

His holiness was confirmed when an experienced ascetic was granted a vision of the young Dositheus numbered among the great saints, and Barsanuphius likewise declared that he had seen him among the saints. Because of his own affliction of the lungs he is invoked as a patron of those who suffer from respiratory disease.

The principal source for his life is the Life of Dositheus, likely composed by another disciple of Dorotheus, which presents his obedience as the heart of his sanctity. He is commemorated on February 19 in the Slavic calendar and on August 13 in Greek usage.

Notes

A pattern of monastic obedience drawn from the writings of Abba Dorotheus.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 19