DOROTEO of GAZA. - Ascetical writer of the sixth century. A native of Antiochia, he received an excellent secular education in his youth; he subsequently embraced the religious life and withdrew to the monastery of Serido, situated between Gaza and Ascalona. Through the interest of Serido himself, D. was able to come into contact with the holy monk Barsanufio, who was then living in complete seclusion; he later became a faithful follower of s. Giovanni il Profeta.
In order to deepen his spiritual learning, D. put to the two ascetics a series of questions concerning the Bible, the works of the Fathers, and various theological subjects. Of these questions, together with the answers, about one hundred have come down to us.
Barsanufio and Giovanni entrusted D. with the task of founding, near the monastery, a hospital, of which he assumed the direction. After the death of the two (c. 540), he left the monastery of Serido in order 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 great esteem in monastic life. They are sermons addressed to the monks of his monastery between 540 and 560.