DOROTHEUS of GAZA. - Ascetic writer of the 6th century. A native of Antioch, he received an excellent secular education in his youth; he later embraced the religious life and retired to the monastery of Seridus, located between Gaza and Ascalon. Through the intercession of Seridus himself, D. was able to come into contact with the holy monk Barsanuphius, who was then living in complete seclusion; he later became a faithful follower of St. John the Prophet.
In order to deepen his spiritual culture, D. proposed to the two ascetics a series of questions on the Bible, on the works of the Fathers, and on various theological topics. About a hundred of these questions, accompanied by the answers, have come down to us.
By Barsanuphius and John, D. was entrusted with founding a hospital near the monastery, of which he assumed the direction. After the death of the two (c. 540), he left the monastery of Seridus to found one between Gaza and Maiuma, where he spent the rest of his life. In this new monastery he composed his *Spiritual Conferences*, which were held in high esteem in monastic life. These are sermons addressed to the monks of his monastery between 540 and 560.