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St Dorothy
February 6
Martyr. Patron of brides, florists and midwives. This third century saint died at Caesarea in Cappadocia during the persecutions of Diocletian. Like St Agatha, whose feast was yesterday, she had refused to marry. According to legend a young lawyer named Theophilus jeered at her as she was being taken to her execution.
He asked her to send him fruits from the garden of paradise. She agreed and prayed for him. An angel appeared to him that night and gave him a basket containing three apples and three roses. Theophilus became a Christian and was later also martyred.
St Dorothy became very popular in Europe, especially Italy and German where the motif of apples and roses often decorates her image.
Her legend was known in Anglo Saxon times. She inspired poems by Swinburne and Gerard Manley Hopkins.