Feast Day: August 13th
The Life of Saint Dositheos: She who conversed with him had been the Most Holy Theotokos. The appearance of the Mother of God produced a strong impression on the youth, and he decided to enter a Monastery…
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Prayers
Saint Dositheos Pray to God for us.
At Gethsemane, he gazed for a long time at an Icon of the Dread Last Judgment. Suddenly he saw beside him a woman, who explained to him what was depicted in the Icon. The youth asked, “How is it possible to avoid the eternal torments?” She replied, “Fast, do not eat meat, and Pray constantly to God.” After this, his strange guide suddenly became invisible. She who conversed with him had been the Most Holy Theotokos. The appearance of the Mother of God produced a strong impression on the youth, and he decided to enter a Monastery.
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Saint Dorotheos tested him and found that the youth Saint Dositheos could say nothing to him other than, “I wish to be saved.”
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When the time came to eat food, Abba Dorotheos said to him: “Eat until you are full, only tell me how much you eat.” He came and said to him: “I ate a loaf and a half of bread, and in a loaf there are three pounds.” Abba Dorotheos asked him: “Was this enough for you, Dositheos?” He replied: “Yes, my lord, this was enough for me.” The Abba asked him: “Are you not hungry?” Then Abba Dorotheos said to him: “No, master, I am not hungry.” Then Abba Dorotheos said to him: “Next time eat one loaf, and divide the other half-loaf into halves; eat one quarter, and the other quarter divide in two, and eat one half.” Dositheos did as he was told. When Abba Dorotheos asked him: “Are you hungry, Dositheos?” he replied, “Yes, lord, a little hungry.” In a few days he again said to him: “How is it with you, Dositheos, do you continue to feel hungry?” He answered, “No, lord, by your Prayers all is well with me.” The Abba said to him: “Then put aside also the other half of the quarter.” He did this. Again in a few days Abba Dorotheos asked of him: “How is it with you now, Dositheos, are you not hungry?” he replied: “It is well with me, lord.” The Abba said to him: “Divide the other quarter also in two, and eat half, and leave half.” He did this. And thus with God’s help, little by little, from four and a half pounds he stopped at eight ounces; for, consumption of food is also a matter of habit.”
He furthermore always had the remembrance of God, for Abba Dorothes had commanded him to say constantly, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” and also, “Son of God, help me,” thus he would always utter this Prayer.
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