Venerable
Venerable Dositheus of Palestine, Disciple of Abba Dorotheus
кон. VI — нач. VII века
Venerable Dositheus — a young man from a wealthy noble family, the favorite servant of a distinguished military commander, who spent his life in luxury; during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem he experienced a miraculous conversion to God before an icon of the Last Judgment in Gethsemane; he settled at the monastery of Abba Seridos near Gaza, was placed under the spiritual guidance of Venerable Dorotheus, labored in the monastery infirmary, and, having acquired the virtues of obedience and humility, died five years after entering the monastery.
Venerable Dositheus lived at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries, was raised in a wealthy and noble family, and was the favorite servant of a distinguished military commander, spending his life in pleasures and luxury. Setting out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the young man experienced a miraculous conversion to God: in Gethsemane, before an image of the Last Judgment, the Mother of God appeared to him in the form of a woman clothed in purple and gave him instructions toward repentance. After this vision, Dositheus left worldly life and settled near Gaza, at the monastery of Abba Seridos, who placed the young man under the spiritual care of Venerable Dorotheus (later the famous Abba Dorotheus of Gaza, author of the "Discourses and Sayings"). Dositheus labored in the monastery infirmary, caring for the sick, and quickly acquired the monastic virtues of obedience, humility, discernment, and complete detachment from earthly things. Five years after entering the monastery, Venerable Dositheus peacefully died. The primary source of information about his life is the original version of his vita, written by his spiritual mentor, Abba Dorotheus. His memory is kept on February 19/March 4 and August 13.