Bishop Dorotheus lived under three emperors, two of whom persecuted Christians.
He began his ministry in Tyre, Phoenician, in what is now Lebanon. He guided the flock wisely and converted many pagans to the true faith. But the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian forced Dorotheus to leave Tyre. After the death of Diocletian, the new emperor, Constantine adopted the edict of religious tolerance. Dorotheus returned to Tyre and continued to serve as bishop for the city community for 50 years. He was a member of the first Council of Nicaea (325), which adopted the Creed.
During the reign of Julian the Apostate, persecution of Christians resumed. The emperor tried to resume the worship of pagan gods and force all non-believers to participate in rituals and rites. The elder was already over a hundred years old, he could not perform the duties of bishop, and it became dangerous to stay in the city.
Saint Dorotheus retired to the Moesian city of Ud (Varna in Bulgaria). There the venerable elder was seized and tried to force him to take part in pagan worship. The old man refused. Then they began to torture him and during the tortures Saint Dorotheus died. He was 107 years old. This happened around the year 362.
It is believed that St. Dorotheus wrote a description of the life of the prophets and apostles, the Synopsis.
Remembrance days
June 18
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
