Dositheus of Gaza

Saint Dositheus of Gaza was a monk of the sixth century, a disciple of Saint Dorotheus of Gaza, who died young, after a grave illness, in the monastery of Seridus. His life has been preserved as a model of monastic life. He is commemorated on 19 February (4 March in the new style) and on 13 August, and in some traditions he is the patron of those with lung diseases.

The main source for his life is the original edition of the Life, written by his teacher Abba Dorotheus; at the end of the sixth century a disciple of Dorotheus made the final redaction on its basis.

From soldier's page to monk

Dositheus was at first a page, or a relative, of a military commander, accustomed to a life of luxury and, in the words of the Life, "had never heard the word of God". He went with his companions to Jerusalem to see the holy places. There, in the church of the Dormition of the Mother of God at Gethsemane (according to other accounts on Golgotha), before an icon of the Last Judgment, a beautiful Woman clothed in purple appeared to him, explaining the torment of each of the condemned and giving him some instructions. The young man was amazed, for he had never heard of God or of judgment, and he asked: "Lady, what must I do to escape these torments?" She answered: "Fast, do not eat meat, and pray often, and you will escape the torments." Having given him these three commandments, the Woman in purple became invisible. Tradition recognizes in her the Mother of God.

After this Dositheus began to fast, to eat no meat and to pray. His soldiers, who advised him to leave the world, brought him to the monastery of Abba Seridus near Gaza. He was probably still a teenager and presented himself in his soldier's clothes. Abbot Seridus placed him under Dorotheus, who was then a beginner monk and, thanks to his earlier studies, the monastery's physician. Dorotheus made him his helper in the monastery infirmary. The teaching of Dorotheus was gradual: at first Dositheus ate as much as he wished, then his portions were slowly reduced, to show that moderation in food is a matter of habit. Dositheus took on these habits, though adapting to monastic life was hard at first, so that Dorotheus was criticized by the brethren for his disciple's laxness. In time Dositheus became known for humility, self-⁠denial and gentleness with the sick. The Life says he was "skilful in every task he did", that he served the sick in the infirmary, and that everyone was comforted by his service.

Illness and death

Less than five years after entering the monastery he fell ill with tuberculosis ("he began to spit blood"). His pains grew worse and he had to shorten his prayer, and Dorotheus advised him to remember God and feel Him at his side. When the suffering became too great, he said to the great Elder Barsanuphius: "Let me go, I can bear it no more." The elder answered: "Endure, child, for the mercy of God is near." Dorotheus grieved, fearing that he would lose his mind. After a few days Dositheus said again: "Master, I cannot live any longer." Then the elder said: "Go in peace, child, stand before the Holy Trinity and pray for us." Dositheus died after asking Barsanuphius for forgiveness of his sins and receiving the elder's blessing.

Many of the brethren murmured, thinking that he had done nothing in the monastery to deserve such a send-⁠off. Dorotheus writes that later an elder who came to the monastery was shown in a vision the assembly of the monastery's monks in heaven, and among them Dositheus. Barsanuphius said that he had seen him among the saints in heaven, and Dorotheus testified that Dositheus had surpassed the others in virtue without any extraordinary austerity. The Orthodox Church regards him as a model monk, especially in the monastic world.