According to the fourth-century church historian, Eusebius, Dorothea was a Christian noblewoman who lived in Alexandria. Maximinus Daia fell in love with her but because she rejected him, he condemned her to exile (Eusebius H.E. 8.14).

There is also a legendary Dorothea of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

In the calendar of saints, she is usually remembered on February 6.

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