Dorothea of Caesarea (''Dorothea, Dora''; often just called ''Saint Dorothy'', died ca. 311 AD) is a 4th-century

virgin martyr The title Virgin (Latin ''Virgo'', Greek ) is an honorific bestowed on female saints and blesseds in some Christian traditions, including the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. Chastity is one of the seven virtues in Christian tr ...

who was executed at

Caesarea Mazaca Caesarea ( /ˌsɛzəˈriːə, ˌsɛsəˈriːə, ˌsiːzəˈriːə/; el, Καισάρεια, Kaisareia) also known historically as Mazaca ( el, Μάζακα) was an ancient city in what is now Kayseri, Turkey. In Hellenistic and Roman times, the ...

. Evidence for her actual historical existence or ''acta'' is very sparse. She is called a martyr of the late

Diocletianic Persecution The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal rights ...

, although her death occurred after the resignation of

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

himself. Dorothea and her companion, Theophilus, are mentioned in the

Roman Martyrology The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved ...

as martyrs of Caesarea in Cappadocia, with a feast on 6 February. She is officially recognized as a virgin martyr. However, since only those feast of saints should be extended to the universal church which commemorate saints who are truly of universal significance, her feast is no longer included in the

General Roman Calendar The General Roman Calendar is the liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgical rite is in use. These celebra ...

, but in some regional calendars.

Life

The earliest record that mentions Dorothea is found in the ''

Martyrologium Hieronymianum The ''Martyrologium Hieronymianum'' (meaning "martyrology of Jerome") or ''Martyrologium sancti Hieronymi'' (meaning "martyrology of Saint Jerome") is an ancient martyrology or list of Christian martyrs in calendar order, one of the most used a ...

''. This first record contains only three basic facts: the day of martyrdom, the place where it occurred, and her name and that of Theophilus.

Legend

Virgin and martyr, Dorothea of Caesarea was persecuted during the persecution of

, 6 February, 311, at Caesarea in Cappadocia. She was brought before the prefect Sapricius, tried, tortured, and sentenced to death. On her way to the place of execution the pagan lawyer Theophilus said to her in mockery: "Bride of Christ, send me some fruits from your bridegroom's garden." Before she was executed, she sent him, by a six-year-old boy, her headdress which was found to be filled with a heavenly fragrance of roses and fruits. Theophilus at once confessed himself a Christian, was put on the rack, and suffered death. This is the oldest version of the legend, which was later variously enlarged.Meier, Gabriel. "St. Dorothea." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 13 Mar. 2015
/ref> (The boy with the basket can be seen in the depictions by

Josse van der Baren Josse van der Baren (variations on the first name: 'Joost' and 'Jodocus') (b. between 1540 and 1560 – d. between 1604 and 1624) was a Southern Netherlands, Flemish painter of history paintings and a draughtsman active in the Leuven area around th ...

and

Hans Baldung Grien Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass artist, who was considered t ...

in the gallery below). The oldest known version of the legend is

Aldhelm Aldhelm ( ang, Ealdhelm, la, Aldhelmus Malmesberiensis) (c. 63925 May 709), Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, Bishop of Sherborne, and a writer and scholar of Latin poetry, was born before the middle of the 7th century. He is said to have been the so ...

's ''De laudibus virginitatis'', addressed to Abbess Hildelitha of

Barking Abbey Barking Abbey is a former royal monastery located in Barking, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It has been described as having been "one of the most important nunneries in the country". Originally established in the 7th century, fr ...

, Essex. Kirsten Wolf characterizes it as one of several legends invented in the fourth and fifth centuries to provide a story to go with a name on one of the various liturgical calendars.Wolf, Kirsten. ''De Sancta Dorothea'', PIMS, 1997

Veneration

In the Western church Dorothy of Caesarea has been venerated since the seventh century. Since the fourteenth century many artists created paintings and sculptures, which are to be found throughout Europe.Santa Dorotea e Teofilo
/ref> In late medieval

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

Saint Dorothy was considered to be the 15th of the Holy Helpers, and in arts she occurred with Saints Barbara,

Catherine Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...

and

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...

, forming with them a quartet of female virgin martyrs called ''Quattuor Virgines Capitales'', meaning "The four

Capital Virgins The four capital virgins, Latin: ''(quattuor) virgines capitales'', are a group of virgin martyrs of the early church. In literature they are also called ''main virgins'' or ''excellent virgins''. These are: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint M ...

". Dorothy of Caesarea is regarded as the patroness of gardeners, due to her virginal

attribute Attribute may refer to: * Attribute (philosophy), an extrinsic property of an object * Attribute (research), a characteristic of an object * Grammatical modifier, in natural languages * Attribute (computing), a specification that defines a prope ...

of a wreath of roses. On her feast on 6 February trees are blessed . Saint Dorothy is also patroness of brewers, brides, florists, midwives, newlyweds and of the village of

Pescia Pescia () is an Italian city in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy. It is located in a central zone between the cities Lucca and Florence, on the banks of the river of the same name. History Archaeological excavations have suggest ...

in Italy. The Sisters of St. Dorothy is a congregation of sisters, occupied primarily with teaching. Dorothy of Caesarea's life and martyrdom was the basis of

Philip Massinger Philip Massinger (1583 – 17 March 1640) was an English dramatist. His finely plotted plays, including ''A New Way to Pay Old Debts'', ''The City Madam'', and '' The Roman Actor'', are noted for their satire and realism, and their politi ...

and Thomas Dekker's ''

The Virgin Martyr ''The Virgin Martyr'' is a Jacobean era stage play, a tragedy written by Thomas Dekker and Philip Massinger, and first published in 1622. It constitutes a rare instance in Massinger's canon in which he collaborated with a member of the previous ...

'' (printed 1622).

Iconography

Saint Dorothy is often depicted as a

virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

carrying a basket of flowers, sometimes with fruit, also depicted wearing a crown of roses; depicted surrounded by stars as she kneels before the executioner; crowned with palm, referring to the

martyr's palm The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm ''(Phoenix)'' was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In ...

; surrounded by stars; depicted in an enclosed garden or an orchard with the

Christ Child The Christ Child, also known as Divine Infant, Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, the Divine Child, Child Jesus, the Holy Child, Santo Niño, and to some as Señor Noemi refers to Jesus Christ from his nativity to age 12. The four canonical gospels, a ...

in an apple tree; leading the Christ Child by the hand; veiled with flowers in her lap; depicted holding apples from heaven on a branch.Patron Saints Index: Saint Dorothy of Caesarea

Depictions

File:Cranach, Lucas, d.Ä. - Die Heilige Dorothea - c. 1530.jpg, ''Die Heilige Dorothea'', by

Lucas Cranach the Elder Lucas Cranach the Elder (german: Lucas Cranach der Ältere ; – 16 October 1553) was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving. He was court painter to the Electors of Saxony for most of his career, and is know ...

. File:Girolamo Donnini - Santa Dorotéia.jpg, ''Saint Dorothy'' by

Girolamo Donnini Girolamo Donnini (18 April 1681 – 1743) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, born in the town of Correggio, Emilia-Romagna. He was a pupil of the painters Francesco Stringa in Modena, and then of Giovanni Gioseffo dal Sole in Bologna, ...

File:Josse van der Baren - The Martyrdom of Saint Dorothea.jpg, ''The Martyrdom of Saint Dorothea'' by

File:Luca della Robbia Dorothea (2).jpg, ''Santa Dorotea'', statue by

Luca della Robbia Luca della Robbia (, also , ; 1399/1400–1482) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence. Della Robbia is noted for his colorful, Tin-glazed pottery, tin-glazed terracotta statuary, a technique which he invented and passed on to his ne ...

Image:St Dorothy Caesarea MNMA Cl2374.jpg, Stained glass representing St. Dorothea of Caesarea. Upper Rhine, ca. 1450 Image:Hans Baldung Grien Enthauptung der hl Dorothea.jpg, ''The Decapitation of Saint Dorothy'',

Image:Tiarini Santa Dorotea.JPG, ''Saint Dorothy and the Angel'' by

Alessandro Tiarini Alessandro Tiarini (20 March 1577 – 8 February 1668) was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School. Biography Alessandro Tiarini was born in Bologna. His mother died when he was a child, and he was raised by an aunt. Early on his fa ...

Image:Dlieja sacun Urtijëi Santa Dorotea .JPG, Fresco from anonymous painter 15th century Brixen school (Italy) File:Grünewald Heilige Dorothea 01.jpg, Copper engraving of St. Dorothy by

Matthias Grünewald Matthias Grünewald ( – 31 August 1528) was a German Renaissance painter of religious works who ignored Renaissance classicism to continue the style of late medieval Central European art into the 16th century. His first name is also given ...

Notes

References

* Butler, Alban. ''The Lives of the Saints.'' Rockford, Illinois: Tan Books and Publishers, 1995. (Originally published 1878.) ''Nihil obstat'' and ''Imprimatur'' 1955. *Englebert, Omer. ''The Lives of the Saints.'' Christopher and

Anne Fremantle Anne Jackson Fremantle (born Anne-Marie Huth Jackson; 1909–2002) was an English-American journalist, translator, poet, novelist and biographer.

External links

Santa Dorotea e Teofilo Martire di Cesarea di Cappadocia
at th
Christian Iconography
web site

in Caxton's translation of the Golden Legend {{DEFAULTSORT:Dorothea Of Caesarea 311 deaths Saints from Roman Anatolia 4th-century Christian martyrs Virgin martyrs 4th-century Roman women 4th-century Christian saints 279 births Late Ancient Christian female saints People whose existence is disputed Christians martyred during the reign of Diocletian