The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Dorotheus the Chamberlain
d. AD 303 (executed) · Imperial chamberlain · Martyr of Nicomedia · Nicomedia
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Dorotheus the Chamberlain was
The most honoured of Diocletian's household servants — 'treated by the emperors as their own children,' says Eusebius — who counted death for the faith greater gain than the glories of the palace, and led the palace-martyrs of 303.
Also listed in martyrs and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Dorotheus die?
Dorotheus the Chamberlain is dated d. AD 303 (executed) in the archive, which places Dorotheus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Dorotheus?
Dorotheus the Chamberlain is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Dorotheus from?
The archive associates Dorotheus the Chamberlain with Nicomedia.
Who were Dorotheus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Dorotheus the Chamberlain to 3 other figures, including Gorgonius of Nicomedia, Emperor Diocletian and Anthimus of Nicomedia. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VIII.1, 6
c. AD 325Dorotheus, the most devoted of the imperial servants, honoured by the emperors as their own children… regarded reproach and pains for religion's sake, and the manifold forms of death invented against them, as greater riches than the glory and luxury of this life.Eusebius of Caesarea · VIII.6 · source text
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (Dorotheus with Gorgonius, 9 September)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Dorotheus.