Dorothea of Alexandria
Dorothea of Alexandria is venerated as a Christian virgin and saint whose legend recounts her rejection of Emperor Maximinus Daia's suit and her subsequent flight. She is remembered for her fidelity to Christianity and virginity, leading to her death in Arabia around 320.
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Egypt
Key Facts
- ›She is venerated as a Christian virgin and saint.
- ›Her legend states she rejected Emperor Maximinus Daia's courtship.
- ›She fled Alexandria in fidelity to Christianity and virginity.
- ›She died in Arabia around 320.
- ›Eusebius of Caesarea wrote of a maiden with similar characteristics but did not name her.
- ›Tyrannius Rufinus is credited with naming her Dorothea and stating she fled to Arabia.
About Dorothea of Alexandria
Dorothea of Alexandria is venerated as a Christian virgin and saint, known primarily through hagiographical accounts. Her legend centers on her rejection of the Roman Emperor Maximinus Daia's advances, an act of fidelity to her Christian faith and her vow of virginity.
Life and historical context
The legend states that Dorothea fled Alexandria after refusing the emperor's suit and that she died in Arabia around the year 320 CE. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea wrote of an unnamed noble maiden who was famous for her wealth, education, and virginity, and who suffered exile and confiscation of her property by Emperor Maximinus when she refused his advances. Later, Tyrannius Rufinus identified this maiden as Dorothea and stated that she fled to Arabia.
Historicity and veneration
Historians and hagiographers have debated the historical accuracy of Dorothea of Alexandria's story. Caesar Baronius once identified her with Catherine of Alexandria, a theory later rejected by the Bollandists, a group of Jesuit scholars dedicated to studying saints' lives. In the 16th century, Dorothea of Alexandria became confused with Dorothea of Caesarea, a more prominent saint with the same name, whose feast day is February 6th. This confusion sometimes led to February 6th also being celebrated as the feast day for the Alexandrian saint. Dorothea of Alexandria is not officially recorded in the Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dorothea of Alexandria?
Dorothea of Alexandria is venerated as a Christian virgin and saint. Her legend tells of her rejection of the Roman Emperor Maximinus Daia's courtship and her subsequent flight from Alexandria.
Why did Dorothea of Alexandria reject Emperor Maximinus Daia?
According to her legend, Dorothea rejected Emperor Maximinus Daia's suit in fidelity to Christianity and her vow of virginity. This refusal led to her fleeing Alexandria.
When and where did Dorothea of Alexandria die?
Dorothea of Alexandria died in Arabia around the year 320. This is based on the accounts of Tyrannius Rufinus, who wrote that she fled to Arabia.
Is Dorothea of Alexandria mentioned by early historians?
Eusebius of Caesarea wrote about a noble maiden who was famously wealthy, educated, and a virgin, and who refused Emperor Maximinus's advances, leading to her exile and seizure of wealth. However, Eusebius did not name this maiden.
Is Dorothea of Alexandria recognized in the Catholic Church?
Dorothea of Alexandria is not recorded in the Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church. She is sometimes confused with Dorothea of Caesarea, a more famous saint whose feast day is February 6th.
Related Saints
Catherine of Alexandria
Catherine of Alexandria is a Christian virgin martyr traditionally believed to have suffered martyrdom in the early 4th century. She is revered as a scholar and princess who converted hundreds to Christianity. Catherine is remembered for her intellectual prowess in debating pagan philosophers and for her steadfast refusal of marriage, dedicating her virginity to Christ.
Apollonia
Saint Apollonia was a virgin martyr venerated in the early Christian church, known for her martyrdom in Alexandria during a local uprising against Christians. She is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry because tradition holds that her teeth were violently pulled out or shattered as part of her torture.
Apollinaris Syncletica
Apollinaris Syncletica was a 5th-century saint and hermit venerated in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Her story, likely apocryphal, centers on the familiar theme of a woman disguising herself as a man to live an ascetic life in the desert. She is chiefly remembered for her spiritual devotion and the legend of her successful deception and eventual revelation.