Dorotheus of Melitene

Holy Martyr Dorotheus of Melitene is counted among the martyrs of Melitene who suffered together with the Holy Martyr Hieron, in the time of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. The Synaxarion preserves the story of Hieron and his thirty-⁠three companions, and Dorotheus is commemorated in the same company.

Hieron was born at Tyana in the second Cappadocia, of a devout mother, Stratonice. The emperors sent two officials, Agricolaus and Lysias, to Armenia and Cappadocia, to put to death the Christians who would not bow to the idols and to enlist in the army all strong men and youths. Lysias heard of Hieron, a strong and brave man, and sent soldiers to take him.

Hieron, learning that he was being called to the army, refused to go, thinking it harmful for a Christian to serve beside worshippers of idols. The soldiers wanted to take him by force, but he seized a piece of wood and put them to flight like a lion among kids. Later his friend Cyriacus was sent, who spoke to him gently, brought him out of the cave where he had taken refuge with eighteen Christians, and led him home to his mother, an old blind widow. Hieron set out with his relatives Victor, Matronian and Anthony toward Melitene.

At night on the road a man dressed in white announced to him that he walked the right road, that he would struggle for the heavenly King and that soon he would receive honour and glory from Him. Hieron was filled with joy and told those around him that he had no care left except his mother, whom he entrusted to God, the Father of orphans and widows. At Melitene he was shut in prison with thirty-⁠three other Christians. There he advised them not to bow to the idols but to offer God a sacrifice of praise. All received the counsel gladly.

The next day Lysias tried them. Hieron confessed that he had beaten the soldiers and that he was not afraid. Lysias tried both flattery and threats, without success, so he ordered them beaten without mercy with rods and then beheaded. On the way to the place of execution the martyrs sang the psalm Blessed are the undefiled in the way. They knelt and said, Lord Jesus Christ, receive our souls, and their heads were cut off.

Anthony and Matronian asked for the body of Hieron, but Lysias demanded the head in exchange, for as much gold as it weighed. A rich man, Chrysaphius, paid for the head of the martyr, and the hand was carried by the two kinsmen to his mother Stratonice, who washed it with her tears, blessing God for her martyred son. Later Chrysaphius built a church on the place where the martyrs were beheaded and laid Hieron's head in it.

Nothing more is said of Dorotheus himself. The Synaxarion commemorates Hieron and the others on 20 November (new style), and the Menaion on 7 November, old style.