Память святого священномученика Дорофея, епископа Тирского

During the reign of the wicked Roman emperor Diocletian 3644, the bishop of the city of Tire 3645 was Saint Dorotheos. When the wicked king launched a cruel persecution against Christians, Dorotheus left his see and hid in unknown places. But with the accession of Emperor Constantine the Great, who reigned from 306 to 337, when there was calm in the Church, Saint Dorotheos again returned to Tire to his see and safely shepherded the flock of verbal sheep, leading many to God from idolatrous error. The life of Dorotheus continued until the time of Emperor Julian the Apostate 3646. Having ascended the throne, Julian initially did not openly persecute Christians, ordering like-minded regional leaders to oppress and torture Christians in every possible way. Then Saint Dorotheos, seeing that a new persecution was being erected against the believers, again left the pulpit of the Tire Church, thus avoiding the hands of the tormentors: for the Lord commanded not to give in to obvious misfortunes from the persecutors, but to avoid them; He said: “When they persecute you in one city, flee to another” (Matthew 10:23). So, leaving Tire, Dorotheus came to Asia Minor, but even here he did not hide from the idolaters, since God called him to the crown of martyrdom. He was captured by the henchmen of the lawless king in the city of Udskoy 3647. Having endured various torments here, in the midst of suffering he gave up his blessed soul into the hands of the Lord, being one hundred and seven years old 3648. Having perfectly studied both secular and spiritual sciences, Saint Dorotheus left behind him various, very important for Christians, works in Greek and Latin, since he was very knowledgeable in both. By the way, he compiled the Lives of the Prophets and Apostles, as well as other very useful works and narratives 3649. And now, having himself been written down in the Book of the Belly, he was installed in the heavenly villages with those saints whose life stories he compiled during his earthly life. Shining with virtues, and with Divine teachings more than the sun, and with blissful suffering, you shone: and you enlightened the land of Dorothea, driving away the darkness of polytheism and fierce heresies. For this reason, we brightly celebrate your memory. Diocletian reigned over the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 284 to 305. Tire was located in Phenicia and was located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Julian the Apostate was emperor from 361 to 363. The city of Ud or Ud was located in the Asia Minor province of Mysia. On the site of ancient Uda there is now the city of Varna. It is not known with certainty which works were written by Saint Dorotheus; it is believed that he wrote the “Synopsis” or a collection of legends about the lives of the prophets and apostles; but not all scientists share this opinion. You might be interested in: