Dorothea of Alexandria

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Saint Dorothea of Alexandria
Died	~320 AD, Alexandria
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	February 6
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Saint Dorothea of Alexandria (d. ca. 320 AD) is venerated as a virgin martyr. Her legend states that she was courted by the Emperor Maximinus. She rejected his suit in favor of her adherence to Christianity and her commitment to virginity, and he had her beheaded circa 320.

[edit] Historicity

Eusebius of Caesarea (Ecclesiastical History, VIII, 14) writes that Maximinus conceived an insane passion for a girl of noble birth noted for her wealth, education, and virginity. When the girl refused his advances, he exiled her and seized all of her wealth and assets.^[1] Eusebius does not give the girl a name, but Tyrannius Rufinus calls her "Dorothea," and writes that she fled to Arabia. Caesar Baronius identified the girl in Eusebius' account with Catherine of Alexandria, but the Bollandists rejected this theory.^[2] In the 16th century, Dorothea, confused with the more famous saint of the same name, was inserted into the Roman Martyrology under the feast day of February 6.^[3]