Dorotheus of Gaza

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Dorotheus of Gaza

Dorotheus of Gaza (* approx. 510 ; † approx. 580 , other information after approx. 620 ; alternative spelling: Dorotheus ) or Abba Dorotheus was a Christian monk and abbot . He entered the monastery of Abba Serid (alternative spelling: Abba Sveridus) under the influence of the hermit Barsanuphius . Around 540 he founded his own monastery nearby and became its head. He wrote instructions for monks, many of which are preserved in the collection Doctrinae diversae . Because of his sensitive knowledge of human emotions, he is considered "the psychologist among the fathers".

He is recognized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and is celebrated on June 5 and June 18, respectively (corresponds to June 5 in the Gregorian calendar ).

Some instructions from Abba Dorotheus

  • God's providence.

Do not want things to happen according to your destiny, but wish that it was as it should be; in this way, you achieve peace with all. And believe that whatever happens to us, even the most meaningless, appears through the providence of God. Then you will endure everything that happens to you for no apparent reason.

  • The desire for kindness.

Anyone who desires salvation not only has to avoid evil, but is required to do good, as the psalm says: “Forbear from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:15). For example, if someone was angry, he should not only overcome his anger but also show gentleness; and if someone was proud, he should not only overcome his pride but also show humility. So every vice has an opposing virtue: pride - modesty, avarice - generosity, lust - chastity, impatience - patience, anger - gentleness, hate - love.

  • The fight against your own shortcomings

What is a person who pursues his passions? He is like someone who, after being shot at by his enemies with arrows, seizes them with his hands and pierces his own heart with them. But whoever resists his passions is like someone who is showered with arrows by his enemies, but remains unharmed because he is well armed. And whoever has completely overcome his passions is like someone who, under a hail of arrows, either breaks them or directs them back into the hearts of his enemies - just as the Psalm says: “Your sword will pierce your own heart, and hers Bows are broken ”(Psalm 37:15).

  • Protection of conscience.

When God created man, He breathed something divine into him; a certain idea, a spark of light and warmth. The idea that illuminates the mind and shows it what is right and what is wrong is called conscience. Conscience is a law of nature. Long before any law was written, patriarchs and saints were pleasing to God by following the voice of their conscience.

  • Moderation and gentleness

Not only should we keep moderation in eating, but abstain from all sin. Just as we fast with our stomach, we should also fast with our tongue. We should also fast with our eyes, e.g. B. Not looking at exciting things and not allowing our eyes to roam shamelessly and unrestrainedly. Likewise, we should keep our arms and legs from doing evil.

It is impossible to revolt at your neighbor without first rising above him, humiliating him and considering yourself superior to him.

  • The cares and providence of God

When we suffer something unpleasant through our best friend, we know that he didn't do it on purpose and that he loves us. We must also think of God, who created us, took on our flesh for our sake and gave it up for our sake with great torment. We must be aware that He did all of this out of kindness and love for us. We might assume that our friend, even though he loves us, has not done everything right and, as a result, has involuntarily hurt us. The same cannot be accepted from God, since HE represents the highest wisdom and therefore always knows what is good for us and arranges even the smallest things for our best. Or, although our friend loves us and feels for us, our friend may be unable to help us. But this cannot be said of God because everything is possible for HIM and nothing is too difficult. So we know that God loves us and is gentle with us and infinitely wise and all powerful. Everything He does is for our benefit, and we should accept it with gratitude as from a benefactor, even if it seems like sorrow to us.

  • Attaining spiritual peace

Let us examine why a person is sometimes angry when insulted and sometimes not. What is the reason for this different behavior? And is there a single reason for this, or are there several? There are several reasons, although they all stem from one main reason. Sometimes it happens that after praying or doing a charitable exercise, one finds oneself in a friendly spiritual mood and therefore is indulgent to one's neighbor and not bothered by his words. It can also be that one person has a positive attitude towards another and can therefore endure everything that they do to them without grumbling. Conversely, it is also possible that a person despises whoever wants to offend him and therefore ignores him.

  • Humility and mean thoughts

We have to know that a person who is oppressed by certain thoughts and does not confess this (to his spiritual father) gives these thoughts even more power to oppress and torment them. But if that person confesses the oppressive thought, if he opposes and fights against it and strives for the opposite of the thought in question, then the passion will be weakened and will eventually stop tormenting it. So in time, trusting in himself and with the support of God, that person will overcome the passion itself.

  • Love for the neighbor

I heard of someone who, when he visited one of his friends and found his apartment in disarray and filth, thought to himself: “Blessed is this man because he is putting aside his earthly pursuits and directing his mind so much into heavenly things that he does not turn himself once has time to tidy up his apartment. ”But when he visited another friend and found his apartment tidy and clean, he thought to himself:“ His soul is as clean as his apartment; her condition speaks for his soul. ”And he never condemned anyone other than dissolute or arrogant; Because of his friendly attitude he saw only good in everyone and was treated well by everyone. May the Lord grant us the same kind attitude so that we may be treated well by all and never see others' faults.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Sievernich : About the self-accusation (Jorge Mario Bergoglio). Herder, Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 2013, ISBN 978-3-451-33451-1 , p. 15.
  2. ↑ Abba Dorotheus . Website orthodoxphotos.com. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ Gabriele Ziegler: The Evil of Memory. Soul insights of the desert fathers and desert mothers . In: Heritage and Mission. Benediktinische Zeitschrift - Monastische Welt , vol. 95 (2019), pp. 315–327, here p. 325.
  4. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia
  5. ↑ Russian Orthodox Church (in Russian)
personal data
SURNAME Dorotheus of Gaza
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dorotheus of Gaza; Abba Dorotheus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Christian monk and abbot
DATE OF BIRTH at 510
DATE OF DEATH at 580 or at 620