The memory of the holy martyr Dorotheus, bishop of Tyre
When the wicked king instituted a cruel persecution of Christians, Dorotheus left his chair and hid in unknown places. But with the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great [Constantine the Great reigned from 306 to 337], when the Church was calmed, St. Dorotheus again returned to Tyre to his chair and brought safely pasture sheep, many from the pagan gods, to Tyre.
When he came to the throne, Julian initially persecuted the Christians in secret, ordering his fellow provincials to persecute and torture the Christians in every possible way. Then, when St. Dorotheus saw that a new persecution was rising against the believers, he again left the chair of the Church of Tyre, thus avoiding the hands of the torturers: for the Lord had commanded not to give in to open attacks from the persecutors, but to avoid them; He said: "When they persecute you in one city, flee to another" (Matt. 10:23).
And when Dorotheus had departed from Tyre, he came into Asia Minor, and there he did not hide himself from the idolaters, for God had called him to the crown of martyrdom; and he was taken by the servants of the lawless king in the city of Udum, and after he had suffered there many torments, he gave up his blessed soul in the hands of the Lord, being seven years old.
Having perfectly studied both secular and spiritual sciences, St. Dorotheus left behind him various, very important for Christians, writings in Greek and Latin, as he was very knowledgeable in both. Among other things, he composed the lives of the prophets and apostles, as well as other very useful writings and narratives [It is not known exactly what works were written by St. Dorotheus; it is believed that he wrote the "Synopsis" or a collection of stories about the lives of prophets and apostles; but not all scholars share this opinion.]
With virtue shining, and divine teachings like the setting sun, and suffering bliss covered you, and you enlightened the land of Dorothea, driving away the fog of idolatry, and furious heresies.
The condac, voiced five:
Condac, Vox 5: With the virtues of the sunshine, and the divine teachings of the sun, and the suffering of the blessed, he illuminated the land of Dorothea, and expelled the Muggle of paganism, and the fierce heresies. This is for your sake a bright celebration. ________________________________________ 1 Diocletian reigned in the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 284 to 305 A.D. 2 Tyre was in Phoenicia and was located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. 3 Constantine the Great reigned from 306 to 337 A.D. 4 Julian the Apostate was emperor from 361 to 363 A.D. 5 The small town of Wudney or Wudney was located in the province of Asia Minor in ancient Asia.