Venerable Dositheus

Life

Venerable Dositheus was a disciple of the renowned Abba Dorotheus, who lived in the monastery of the venerable Seridus, John and Barsanuphius the Great. Dositheus was a relative of a certain commander, and came to Jerusalem to see the holy places. When he was once looking at a picture of the Last Judgment in a church, a woman in purple robes approached him and explained it to him. And finally, at parting, she told him that if he wished to be saved, he should fast, not eat meat, and pray to God often. This was the Most Holy Theotokos. And the heart of young Dositheus was inflamed, and he desired the monastic life. Dorotheus received him as his novice and ordered him to completely cut off his own will and to obey his spiritual father. For several days he gave him to eat as much as he wanted, after a certain time he reduced it by one quarter, then after some time again one quarter, until he accustomed him to get by with the smallest measure of food, always saying to him: "Eating is a habit and however much one becomes accustomed, so much does one eat." And he was saved and glorified by complete obedience. And he remained forever an example of monastic obedience and devotion to one's spiritual father. This young saint lived in the sixth century.