Dorcas

For other people with the name, see Dorcas (given name).
For a taxonomic synonym of a genus of beetles, see Dorcus.
Saint

Dorcas
Saint Tabitha on a Greek Orthodox Church icon (mural)
Witness to the Faith
Honored inAll Christian denominations that venerate saints
Feast27 January
25 October

Dorcas (Greek: Δορκάς, romanized: Dorkás), or Tabitha (Imperial Aramaic: טביתא/ܛܒܝܬܐ, romanized: Ṭaḇīṯā, lit. '(female) gazelle'), was an early disciple of Jesus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles[1][2] (Acts 9:36–43, see discussion here). She lived in the port city of Joppa, today absorbed by Tel Aviv. Acts describes her as being known for her "good works and acts of mercy", sewing clothes for the poor.[3][4] When she died, the widows of her community mourned her and sent urgently for Peter (Acts 9:38), who was in nearby Lydda. As evidence of her charity, they showed him some of the clothes she had sewn, and according to the biblical account he raised her from the dead.[5]

She is celebrated as a saint by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and some Protestant denominations.[6][7]

  1. ^ Douglas, J. D.; Tenney, Merrill C.; Silva, Moisés (revised by) (2011) [1973]. "Dorcas; Tabitha". Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Zondervan Academic. pp. 370, 1416. ISBN 9780310492351. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. ^ Syswerda, Jean E. (2002). Women of the Bible: 52 Bible studies for individuals and groups. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. p. 214. ISBN 0310244927.
  3. ^ Bock, Darrell L. (2007). Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Baker Books. p. 378. ISBN 978-1441200266.
  4. ^ Gangel, Kenneth O. (1998). Holman New Testament Commentary - Acts. B&H Publishing Group. p. 146. ISBN 0805402055.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Witherington was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Pfatteicher, Philip H. (2008). The new book of festivals and commemorations: a proposed common calendar of saints. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. p. 683. ISBN 9780800621285.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).